Health
Public health readiness
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 1, 2004
Although states have been developing many important aspects of public health preparedness, no state is fully prepared to respond to a major public health threat, says a new General Accounting Office report.
States have improved their disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, communication capacity and work force needed to respond to public health threats, but gaps in each area remain, said the report. Regional planning between states is lacking, and many states lack the surge capacity that would be needed during an emergency.
In addition, most states have not finalized their plans for receiving and distributing medical supplies and material for mass vaccinations from the Strategic National Stockpile.
The Dept. of Health and Human Services was also faulted for not yet publishing its influenza pandemic plan although federal officials told the GAO that the plan was under review. Most of the state plans have also not been finalized. The GAO had recommended in 2000 that HHS complete its blueprint.
Without such a plan, the congressional watch dog agency questioned the adequacy of the federal role in the purchase, distribution and administration of vaccines and antiviral drugs during a pandemic.
The report was delivered as testimony on Feb. 12 before the House Committee on Government Reform.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/03/01/hlbf0301.htm.
