Strengthening national surveillance systems contributes to a more interconnected and responsive European and global health network and a more secure European and global health environment aligning with broader global health security initiatives. Many international health organizations and agreements, such as the International Health Regulations (IHR) and Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 1082/2013/EU, emphasize the importance of strong surveillance systems. Compliance with these standards ensures that countries, such as Cyprus, are part of a collective effort to gather comparable data and manage and control global health threats.
Surveillance systems also provide essential data for evidence-based decision-making. By improving the quality and timeliness of data collection, governments including that of the Republic of Cyprus can make informed decisions to allocate resources, implement interventions, and monitor the effectiveness of public health measures.
Investing in national surveillance systems involves capacity building at various levels, including training health-care professionals, enhancing laboratory infrastructure and laboratory surveillance, and improving data management. This strengthens a country’s overall health system resilience.
Finally, by investing in surveillance infrastructure, countries including Cyprus are better equipped to detect, assess, and respond to novel infectious diseases or other public health emergencies. A well-functioning surveillance system enables the early detection of potential health threats. Timely identification allows for a more rapid and targeted response, minimizing the impact of diseases and reducing the likelihood of their spread within countries, across Europe, and globally.
In summary, our aim is to strengthen and improve the national surveillance system in the Republic of Cyprus, which is strategically located at the borders of the EU. It is motivated by the need to address national public health weaknesses and challenges, learn from past experiences, leverage technological advancements, and contribute to a more resilient and interconnected national, European, and global public health surveillance system. The rationale lies in the potential to enhance early detection, data- driven decision-making, and overall preparedness for emerging threats, ultimately contributing to better public health outcomes nationally and internationally.