{
  "abstract": "Introduction While pathogen genomics using next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been recommended by the WHO as an essential tool for national communicable disease surveillance programmes, procurement and supply chain management (PSM) systems for this new technology are still evolving. To assess the status of PSM systems for pathogen genomics, we examined perspectives from end-users and manufacturers across South and Southeast Asia.Methods Between 2022 and 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among institutional partners supporting pathogen genomics among primarily low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia. This was complemented by qualitative interviews with the major regional NGS manufacturers. A PSM framework was employed to assess sales, procurement, production, distribution and post-sales support. Analyses are expressed as proportions and means or medians for continuous variables.Results A total of 42 partners across 13 countries, 3 genomics manufacturers and 22 laboratory personnel contributed data to this assessment. PSM challenges were reported by all countries and for all sequencing platforms. High costs of equipment and consumables were identified by 85% of respondents. Long equipment purchasing lead times and reagent re-supply times were reported by 69% and 77% of countries, respectively, with reagent resupply times averaging 8 weeks (IQR 6.2–9.0). Additional barriers included customs clearance, variability of import procedures, taxes and duties. Manufacturers reported a range of strategies to respond to PSM bottlenecks, including establishing regional hubs, distributor networks and financing schemes.Conclusion Coordinated national and regional efforts are required to improve PSM systems for pathogen genomic sequencing to enhance timely early disease detection and response capacity in South and Southeast Asia.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Anne-Claire Stona"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore",
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore",
        "Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Yoong Khean Khoo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "La Moe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore",
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Suci Wulandari"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Evidence and Implementation, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Shreya Agoramurthy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Marya Getchell"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Tze-Minn Mak"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Junxiong Pang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Elyssa Jiawen Liu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Shurendar Selva Kumar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore",
        "Centre of Regulatory Excellence, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "John CW Lim"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Gavin J D Smith"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Independent Consultant, Washington, DC, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Bertholet"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinton Health Access Initiative, Boston, Massachusetts, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Arika Garg"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Independent Consultant, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Steven Harsono"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Independent Consultant, Washington, DC, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Maeve Magner"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh"
      ],
      "name": "Firdausi Qadri"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh"
      ],
      "name": "Tahmina Shirin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia"
      ],
      "name": "Lucia Rizka Andalucia"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia"
      ],
      "name": "Syarifah Liza Munira"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Communicable Disease Control, National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), Ministry of Health Lao PDR, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic"
      ],
      "name": "Phonepadith Xangsayarath"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic"
      ],
      "name": "Matthew T Robinson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Health Laboratory, Department of Medical Service, Ministry of Health Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar"
      ],
      "name": "Swe Setk"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health Myanmar, Naypyitaw, Myanmar"
      ],
      "name": "Hlaing Myat Tu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "World Health Organisation Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal"
      ],
      "name": "Govindakarnavar Arunkumar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health & Population, Teku, Kathmandu, Nepal"
      ],
      "name": "Runa Jha"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Afreenish Amir"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Aamer Ikram"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan"
      ],
      "name": "Imran Nisar"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa, Philippines"
      ],
      "name": "Timothy Dizon"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines"
      ],
      "name": "Cynthia Saloma"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka"
      ],
      "name": "Neelika Gathsaurie Malavige"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Ruklanthi De Alwis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore",
        "Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore"
      ],
      "name": "Paul M Pronyk"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Strengthening supply chains for pathogen genomic surveillance in Asia",
  "uid": "7bf16ac0-ba54-5695-9c23-5b7c5d89f3b7"
}