Improving public health laboratory preparedness at European Union level: learning points from experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

This Perspective discusses how European Union (EU)-level action could support public health laboratories in preparing for future threats from respiratory infectious diseases. It draws extensively from a study that looked at the experience of public health laboratories in EU/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study included a literature review and consultation with stakeholders from public health laboratories in EU/EEA countries and from EU institutions. We discuss how to address the challenges faced by public health laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing particularly on the role of EU institutions. The Perspective concludes by discussing the importance of improving public health laboratory preparedness for future health threats when there is no ongoing public health emergency, instead of during a health emergency.