Prior to January 2020, the South East Asia Region (SEAR) had suboptimal molecular testing and genomic sequencing capacity limited to national and very few subnational laboratories. However, despite challenges, molecular testing capacities for SARS-CoV-2 increased from five laboratories to more than 4800, as of October 2021. Member States also achieved the following:
- Rapid integration of new diagnostic tools into national COVID-19 testing strategies.
- Implementation of Rapid antigen tests by 10 Member States with seven having in-country capacity to carry out genomic sequencing, while three had external access to regional referral laboratories for genome sequencing.
- Early identification, prompt isolation and effective treatment of COVID-19 cases was now possible with the expanded SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic capabilities.
During the intense phase of the pandemic when COVID-19 transmissions were surging with subsequent emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in particular Delta variant , health systems were severely challenged, causing a setback to COVID -19 disease control strategies implemented across the SEAR.
The recent surges of COVID 19 in Member States highlighted the need for innovative solutions to sustain and scale-up strategic testing for COVID-19 to address diagnostic implications as a result of changing epidemiological situations.
ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A), a new global initiative with potential to address diagnostics , therapeutics and vaccine challenges
ACT-A was established in 2020 to accelerate the development, production and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatment and vaccines. The diagnostics pillar of ACT-A enabled WHO and its ACT-Accelerator partners to deliver more than 92.9 million affordable, high-quality diagnostic tests to low and low-middle income countries globally, including those in WHO SEAR. It enabled access to a new suite of tools that were much needed by the diagnostic community at the country level to detect emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants while interrupting the rapid transmission of COVID-19.
Given the challenges in SEAR, due to rising diagnostic demands, the diagnostic pillar of ACT-A, in collaboration with WHO Regional Office for SEAR held a virtual regional roundtable meeting with all its Member States on 24 August 2021. The meeting aimed to identify diagnostic barriers and challenges, faced in scaling-up and sustaining COVID-19 diagnostics and laboratory capacities.
Recommendations on way forward
- Strengthen laboratory capacity as a core priority within the overall COVID-19 response in the midst of ongoing waves of COVID-19 transmission, and the emergence and spread of new variants of concern.
- Provide additional support to key areas of laboratory diagnosis such as improving training methodology to strengthen laboratory workforce, supporting local production and validation of diagnostic tools, strengthening supply chain systems within the national setting, improving data management systems and supporting implementation of genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- Member States to sustain expanded diagnostic capacities and address requirements for laboratory diagnostics and other aspects of laboratory response emerging from the dynamics of the current wave of COVID-19 transmission and potential future pandemics.
- Raise awareness of ACT-A stakeholders on gaps and needs in laboratory diagnostics and support resource mobilization efforts.
- Maximize opportunities for WHO and partners to rapidly respond to country needs in an agile way, in particular in Situations of Concerns (SoC).
- ACT-A diagnostic pillar to continue working with partners and WHO regional and country offices to engage with Member States towards tailoring country-specific approaches to mobilize required resources and support to sustain and scale-up testing for SARS-CoV-2 based on evolving needs of the pandemic.