03-25083. Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

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Proposed Project: International Performance Standards Project—New—Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO), is proposing to implement a required data collection to:

a. Assess public health preparedness of countries to respond to a public health threat or emergency.

b. Assess progress of countries towards (1) identifying any gaps that need to be strengthened in their public health systems, (2) achieving the critical and enhanced capacities of their public health systems, and (3) setting optimal standards for system performance that will enhance the delivery of public health services.

c. Identify the focus of future proposed work plans, as well as help countries develop a public health research agenda.

d. Provide a consistent framework for each country to characterize the status of its public health infrastructure.

This assessment will use the International Instrument for performance measurement of Essential Public Health Functions. This instrument is used for rapid assessment of capacity at the level of the National Health Authority of countries to respond to public health threats and emergencies. This instrument focuses on the six areas of fiscal year 2002 Supplemental Funds for Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism (Announcement Number 99051), as the framework for data collection. The six focus areas are:

• Preparedness Planning and Readiness Assessment
• Surveillance and Epidemiology Capacity
• Laboratory Capacity—Biological Agents
• Health Alert Network/Communication and Information Technology
• Risk Communication and Health Information Dissemination (Public Information and Communication)
• Education and Training

Hard copy assessment instruments will be used in a group setting within countries to collect the data. The respondents will be individuals from all levels of the health system who are knowledgeable about the functions of their system. This process is being done in conjunction with the World Bank and the governments of the different countries who elect to undertake performance measurement of their public health systems using this methodology. The process will be funded through the Bank and the government of the countries. No Federal funds will be used in the process. It is anticipated that more than nine (9) countries may be involved. The annualized burden is estimated to be 120 hours.

	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondents	Avg. burden response in hrs.
Year 1	5	1	120

Dated: September 29, 2003.

Nancy E. Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control Prevention.