A new short GAO testimony document has been published which considers:

- Federal leadership roles and responsibilities for preparing for and responding to a pandemic,
- The GAO’s assessment of the current US National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza and National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan, and
- Opportunities to increase clarity of federal leadership roles and responsibilities and to improve pandemic planning.

The issues discussed in the testimony are based primarily on the GAO report, ‘Influenza Pandemic: Further Efforts Are Needed to Ensure Clearer Federal Leadership Roles and an Effective National Strategy’ (GAO-07-781).

Various gaps in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza and National Strategy (Strategy) for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan (Plan) are identified in the new document, including:

(1) The Strategy and Plan do not address resources, investments, and risk management and consequently do not provide a picture of priorities or how adjustments might be made in view of limited resources.

(2) State and local jurisdictions were not directly involved in developing the Plan, even though they would be on the front lines in a pandemic.

(3) Relationships and priorities among action items are not always clear.

(4) Performance measures are focused on activities that are not always linked to results.

(5) The linkage of the Strategy and Plan with other key plans is unclear.

(6) The Plan does not contain a process for monitoring and reporting on progress.

(7) The Plan does not describe an overall framework for accountability and oversight and does not clarify how responsible officials would share leadership responsibilities.

(8) Procedures and time frames for updating and revising the Plan were not established.

Read the testimony http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d071257t.pdf

•Date: 27th Sept 2007• Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning
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