Insufficient cooperation between science and politics
Published: Tuesday, Nov 14th 2023, 10:50
العودة إلى البث المباشر
Science and politics have not cooperated sufficiently during the coronavirus pandemic. This was the conclusion drawn by researchers in the synthesis report on the National Research Program "Covid-19" (NRP 78). The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and the researchers agree that cooperation should now be strengthened.
The partnership between the scientific community and government institutions was not sufficiently developed to withstand the enormous pressure of a pandemic crisis, according to the final report published on Tuesday.
The original assumption that the existing communication channels and cooperation between science and health authorities would be sufficient in the event of a crisis did not prove to be the case during the Covid-19 pandemic, the report states. Especially in the initial phase of the pandemic, there seemed to be a disconnect between the scientific community and government institutions, which led to confusing communication about measures and their scientific justification.
"At the beginning, the networks had to form. People often talked past each other. We didn't know exactly who was responsible for what, who was working under what conditions," Marcel Salathé, President of the NRP 78 Steering Committee, told the media. However, much of the collaboration worked well, the scientist emphasized.
BAG also wants to strengthen cooperation
However, cooperation should be improved for future crises. "We are determined to use this experience to strengthen cooperation between science and the authorities," said Linda Nartey, Deputy Director of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). "The conclusion of the National Research Program is also a new departure," she continued. The aim is to clarify exactly who is responsible for what and how the exchange works.
In the report, the researchers recommend measures to improve cooperation, such as regular symposia for knowledge transfer, a joint doctoral program between a university and the Federal Office of Public Health, as well as exchange programs for scientific employees of the public administration and members of the universities.
Positive balance sheet
In general, however, the researchers are positive about NRP 78, stating that the research program has made a constructive contribution to the scientific understanding of the pandemic in Switzerland.
"The research projects provided data and findings that have already been incorporated into the pandemic response, but will also help us prepare for future crises," said Nartey. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) launched the research program in April 2020. Funded with 20 million Swiss francs, NRP 78 aimed to gain new insights into Covid-19, draw up recommendations for clinical management and the healthcare system and drive forward the development of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics.
For example, as part of the project, the researchers provided insights into the mobility behavior of the population during the pandemic and the transmissibility of the virus, as well as weekly analyses on the acceptance of protective measures, according to a statement from the SNSF.
Research in crisis mode
According to Salathé, probably the biggest challenge for all researchers was dealing with the extraordinarily dynamic field of research, the rapid pace of which was partly due to the global dimension of the pandemic. The research program also had to adapt to new developments, such as the emergence of Long Covid.
"This crisis situation has shown that Swiss research can deliver results very quickly," said the SNSF. Science must now be prepared for future crises, said Salathé. Crises are becoming more frequent. Science must be ready for rapid mobilization at all times. "After the crisis is before the crisis," said Salathé.
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