ABSTRACT
Supervision of infectious diseases is essential for mitigating cases through early and accurate detection. Laboratory-based surveillance plays a critical role in reducing the burden of infectious diseases. This study analyses the capacity of laboratories to support lab-based surveillance in the Sistem Kewaspadaan Dini dan Respon (SKDR) or Early Warning, Alert, and Response System (EWARS) in Indonesia. Using a mixed-methods approach, observations and analyses were conducted in three provinces with six selected districts, complemented by interviews. The findings reveal that EWARS implementation is generally suboptimal, with leadership and awareness of its importance identified as key areas for improvement. For future implementation of laboratory-based EWARS surveillance, it is imperative to prioritise valid data collection, rapid response, and a shared understanding of surveillance as a problem-solving mechanism. This requires commitment from internal stakeholders, including top management, surveillance officers, laboratory personnel, and other health workers, as well as external stakeholders such as municipal and district governments responsible for budgeting. These findings underscore the importance of timely and accurate disease detection and response as vital components of Indonesia's pandemic preparedness and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
