Sustainability of Sub-Regional Disease Surveillance Networks

Melinda Moore, David J. Dausey, Bounlay Phommasack, Sok Touch, Lu Guoping, Soe Lwin Nyein, Kumnuan Ungchusak, Nguyen Dang Vung, and Moe Ko Oo

Sub-regional disease surveillance networks are an emerging trend in global public health. The Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance cooperation (MBDS) is one such network, which despite notable successes over the past ten years faces challenges in sustainability. We created a sustainability framework comprising strategic and tactical sustainability-enabling factors that can be used to characterize networks and orient planning for their sustainability into the future. We applied the framework to MBDS as a proof of concept. Sub-regional infectious disease surveillance networks contribute importantly to regional and global health, yet they may face challenges in sustainability as they mature. Our framework, based on a data-driven virtuous cycle and systematic use of sustainability-enabling factors, can guide monitoring of and planning for sustainability of these networks.