Czech State Health Institute Faces Funding Gap Threatening Infection Surveillance Labs
The State Health Institute (SZÚ) lacks money for basic supplies, endangering its national reference laboratories that detect dangerous infections.
SZÚ relies on reference labs to identify viruses, bacteria and toxins promptly. Currently, the institute cannot afford essential materials for these labs. Staff warn that investigations of hazardous infections are at risk. The health ministry has refused to provide immediate funds, despite a promise to allocate tens of millions by year-end.
Why it matters
Insufficient funding could impair the country's ability to detect and respond to serious infectious disease outbreaks.
In this story
funding shortagereference laboratoriesdangerous infectionspublic healthCzech Republiclaboratory supplieshealth ministryinfection surveillance
