Agility in a health crisis – a report on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic

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A report on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic has been compiled by KI:s Centre for Health Crises and published online. For a medical university with a global engagement there is a true “win-win” in responding rapidly to a health crisis, be it a pandemic or a war, or a more protracted and insidious crisis coupled to climate, biodiversity, antibiotic resistance, or to events not foreseen. A rapid refocusing of research and education is a “win” for the society, providing prompt access to relevant tests, diagnostics, and treatments. And it is a “win” for the university, enabling it to quickly position itself in an emergent research and educational arena of critical importance. I think we could safely say that KI was quick to zoom in on the new virus and transform its operations when the pandemic hit. Already in April 2021 there were almost 600 COVID-19 related publications with KI affiliations – a major share with collaborators from the Karolinska University Hospital or other hospitals in the Stockholm region. Now the number of such publications exceeds 1400. And let us not forget the rapid generation of educational programmes for health care workers and the swift repurposing of research facilities for COVID-19 diagnostics.

Passed the test

We passed the test, but as a university we should never be complacent but rather reflect – critically and openly – on how we could be even more agile next time a crisis hits. I requested this report since we should always strive towards continued improvement of how we deliver the very best research and education, acutely and long-term, for the benefit of our region, country, and society at large.

The report tells us that KI transformed its activities in many ways as a response to the pandemic. In just four weeks, the Centre for Translational Microbiome Research converted from a research lab to a diagnostic lab to assist with PCR tests on the national level. In 2020 alone this lab analysed over half a million diagnostic COVID-19 tests. Moreover, the report also highlights the importance of KI’s collaborative networks and the flexible cooperation with the health care sector and hospitals in the Stockholm region.  

Better prepared

Nonetheless, there were also challenges and issues on the way, in terms of organisation, collaboration, communication, access to data and more. It is vital that we address these challenges so that we can be even better prepared when we have the next health crisis at our doorstep.

To be better at building preparedness for health crises and better at handling them require research and education and I am sure that KI´s Centre for Health Crises will continue to deliver. Through its team of experts, the Centre for Health Crises operates across disciplines and sectors. At present, staff from the Centre is responding to the latest major health crisis, caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

On the eve of my time as KI President, it is with pride that I see this report as yet another example of how KI is willing to learn, critically reflect and continue to improve in order to strive for a better health for all.

Read the report ‘Improved preparedness for the next health crises – lessons learned at KI during the COVID-19 pandemic’ here (only available in Swedish).

Read the Centre for Health Crises annual report for 2022 here.


Lärdomar och erfarenheter från pandemin

Centrum för hälsokriser vid Karolinska Institutet har sammanställt en rapport om erfarenheter och lärdomar från covid-19-pandemin, som nu finns publicerad på KI:s webbplats. Rapporten visar bland annat att KI snabbt kunde ställa om verksamheten och fokusera på pandemin. Redan i april 2021 fanns det nästan 600 vetenskapliga studier publicerade med deltagande från KI-forskare. Motsvarande siffra är nu uppe i 1 400. Till detta ska läggas de omfattande insatser som gjordes inom KI gällande t ex analyser av covidtester vid våra laboratorier och framtagande av utbildningar för personal inom vård och omsorg. Dessutom medverkade KI:s forskare frekvent i medier och i andra sammanhang, där de delade med sig av sin kunskap och bedömningar av utvecklingen.

Centrum för hälsokriser arbetar för att förbättra beredskapen inför hälsokriser och för detta krävs fortsatt satsning på forskning och utbildning. Det här är något som kommer att fortsätta vara en viktig verksamhet för KI, inte minst för centrets ambition att arbeta över sektorsgränser och discipliner.

Just nu befinner sig personal från centret i den jordbävningsdrabbade regionen i Turkiet/Syrien. Det är ett exempel på hur vi snabbt och på plats kan bidra med hjälp och kunskap, men också en illustration av hur viktigt det är att vi kan lära av och utveckla ny kunskap från nya kriser och katastrofer som uppstår.

Läs gärna också Centrum för hälsokrisers första årsrapport, som finns publicerad på KI:s webbplats.

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