Strengthening supply chains for pathogen genomic surveillance in Asia

Strengthening supply chains for pathogen genomic surveillance in Asia

BMJ Global Health

10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019241

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019241

Anne-Claire Stona, Yoong Khean Khoo, La Moe, Suci Wulandari, Shreya Agoramurthy, Marya Getchell, Tze-Minn Mak, Junxiong Pang, Elyssa Jiawen Liu, Shurendar Selva Kumar, John CW Lim, Gavin J D Smith, Alexandra Bertholet, Arika Garg, Steven Harsono, Maeve Magner, Firdausi Qadri, Tahmina Shirin, Lucia Rizka Andalucia, Syarifah Liza Munira, Phonepadith Xangsayarath, Matthew T Robinson, Swe Setk, Hlaing Myat Tu, Govindakarnavar Arunkumar, Runa Jha, Afreenish Amir, Aamer Ikram, Imran Nisar, Timothy Dizon, Cynthia Saloma, Neelika Gathsaurie Malavige, Ruklanthi de Alwis, Paul M Pronyk

06 February 2026

Stona, A.-C., Khoo, Y. K., Moe, L., Wulandari, S., Agoramurthy, S., Getchell, M., Mak, T.-M., Pang, J., Liu, E. J., Selva Kumar, S., Lim, J. C., Smith, G. J. D., Bertholet, A., Garg, A., Harsono, S., Magner, M., Qadri, F., Shirin, T., Andalucia, L. R., et al. (2026). Strengthening supply chains for pathogen genomic surveillance in Asia. BMJ Global Health, 11(2), e019241. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019241

Introduction While pathogen genomics using next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been recommended by the WHO as an essential tool for national communicable disease surveillance programmes, procurement and supply chain management (PSM) systems for this new technology are still evolving. To assess the status of PSM systems for pathogen genomics, we examined perspectives from end-users and manufacturers across South and Southeast Asia. Methods Between 2022 and 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among institutional partners supporting pathogen genomics among primarily low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia. This was complemented by qualitative interviews with the major regional NGS manufacturers. A PSM framework was employed to assess sales, procurement, production, distribution and post-sales support. Analyses are expressed as proportions and means or medians for continuous variables. Results A total of 42 partners across 13 countries, 3 genomics manufacturers and 22 laboratory personnel contributed data to this assessment. PSM challenges were reported by all countries and for all sequencing platforms. High costs of equipment and consumables were identified by 85% of respondents. Long equipment purchasing lead times and reagent re-supply times were reported by 69% and 77% of countries, respectively, with reagent resupply times averaging 8 weeks (IQR 6.2–9.0). Additional barriers included customs clearance, variability of import procedures, taxes and duties. Manufacturers reported a range of strategies to respond to PSM bottlenecks, including establishing regional hubs, distributor networks and financing schemes. Conclusion Coordinated national and regional efforts are required to improve PSM systems for pathogen genomic sequencing to enhance timely early disease detection and response capacity in South and Southeast Asia.

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

There was no specific funding for the research done

https://oar.a-star.edu.sg/communities-collections/articles/23076

2059-7908

Bioinformatics Institute

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019241