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BERLIN/GLOBAL – April 8, 2025 – The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in global health systems, particularly highlighting constrained access to diagnostic testing due to factors like cost and inadequate infrastructure, notably in regions like Latin America.1 A convergence of three recent studies now underscores these vulnerabilities, pointing to socioeconomic disparities and diagnostic limitations as critical hurdles to effective pandemic preparedness and calling for more collaborative and equitable global health strategies.
A significant socioeconomic study published in BMJ Open in 2025 delved into the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity and factors like wealth, governance, and social inequality across 109 countries between 2020 and 2021.2 The analysis revealed stark contrasts, finding that social and gender inequalities, alongside national wealth, played a crucial role in determining access to testing. “We found that socioeconomic and gender inequalities play a significant role in access to SARS-CoV-2 testing,” stated Professor Felix Drexler of Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the lead author across all three studies.3 The findings emphasize an urgent need to address health care equity and significantly boost diagnostic capacity worldwide to better contain future pathogen spreads.
These conclusions are echoed in a joint report by researchers from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), published in November 2024 by the EU-LAC Foundation. This report focused on systemic vulnerabilities revealed by the pandemic, specifically calling for improved regional capacities for producing drugs and vaccines and advocating for a more balanced intellectual property rights framework to encourage innovation, particularly within the EU and Latin American/Caribbean regions.4
Further highlighting the challenges, especially in resource-limited settings, a third study published in Health Policy in March 2025 assessed COVID-19 diagnostic capabilities in 20 low- and middle-income countries where DZIF scientists had worked to establish tests and train staff. This research identified significant barriers to capacity building, including expensive and hard-to-obtain reagents, poor infrastructure, and shortages of skilled personnel.
The study concluded that enhanced and secured funding, clear mandates from regional and national authorities, and the strong integration of diagnostics into health systems are vital for pandemic preparedness.
Synthesizing the findings, Professor Drexler, a scientist within DZIF’s “Emerging Infections” research area, stated, “Our collective findings underscore a call to action for sustained international cooperation, equitable distribution of resources, and resilient health systems.”5 He highlighted the extensive research contributions of DZIF beyond Germany, including collaborations with African Partner Institutions, adding, “Integrating these lessons will be essential to fostering a more inclusive global health landscape that is better prepared for future pandemics.”
The combined research provides critical insights, stressing that learning from the COVID-19 crisis requires addressing deep-rooted socioeconomic inequalities and strengthening diagnostic infrastructures globally through sustained, cooperative efforts.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided from summaries of studies published in BMJ Open, Health Policy, and a report by the EU-LAC Foundation. Specific publication dates mentioned (November 2024, March 2025, 2025) are as cited in the source material. For full details and context, please refer to the original publications.
