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Source: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-106829
Public Health Preparedness: Critical Need to Address Deficiencies in HHS's Leadership and Coordination of Emergencies
GAO-23-106829 Published: May 11, 2023. Publicly Released: May 11, 2023.
...What GAO Found
GAO has found persistent deficiencies in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) ability to lead and coordinate the nation's preparedness for, and response to, public health emergencies. Specifically, HHS has consistently fallen short in five areas of an effective national response (see figure).
For example, GAO found that HHS has not
developed clear roles and responsibilities, including exercising them;
developed an interoperable network of systems for near real-time public health situational awareness, as required in statute since 2006;
provided clear, consistent communication about disease outbreaks, including information about COVID-19 testing;
been transparent when disseminating information during an emergency, such as the scientific reasoning for changes to the COVID-19 testing guidelines; and
undertaken key workforce planning to meet its emergency planning and response mission and goals.
Sustained leadership and attention from the executive branch and Congress in this area is needed to ensure the systemic issues GAO has identified are sustainably addressed so that the U.S. is adequately prepared for future emergencies. A whole-of-nation multidisciplinary approach to preparedness and response is essential. HHS partnership and engagement with nonfederal entities, including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and the private sector are key elements of this approach. GAO will continue to monitor HHS's efforts in this area...
Public Health Preparedness: Critical Need to Address Deficiencies in HHS's Leadership and Coordination of Emergencies
GAO-23-106829 Published: May 11, 2023. Publicly Released: May 11, 2023.
...What GAO Found
GAO has found persistent deficiencies in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) ability to lead and coordinate the nation's preparedness for, and response to, public health emergencies. Specifically, HHS has consistently fallen short in five areas of an effective national response (see figure).
For example, GAO found that HHS has not
developed clear roles and responsibilities, including exercising them;
developed an interoperable network of systems for near real-time public health situational awareness, as required in statute since 2006;
provided clear, consistent communication about disease outbreaks, including information about COVID-19 testing;
been transparent when disseminating information during an emergency, such as the scientific reasoning for changes to the COVID-19 testing guidelines; and
undertaken key workforce planning to meet its emergency planning and response mission and goals.
Sustained leadership and attention from the executive branch and Congress in this area is needed to ensure the systemic issues GAO has identified are sustainably addressed so that the U.S. is adequately prepared for future emergencies. A whole-of-nation multidisciplinary approach to preparedness and response is essential. HHS partnership and engagement with nonfederal entities, including state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, and the private sector are key elements of this approach. GAO will continue to monitor HHS's efforts in this area...