The Pandemic EVIDENCE Collaboration Pillar 3: practice and policy

Clinical practice and policy must be better informed by the best possible evidence to ensure effective resource use and sound decisions. An understanding of what has been tested to date and the social, educational and economic consequences of NPIs across different sectors of society and across the spectrum of low- to high-income countries is required. As an example, the implications and costs of closing schools on learning, socialisation, and mental health need to be assessed For effective policy, we need to improve our approach to addressing pandemics. This approach includes using real-time data and evidence, which is crucial in informing evidence-based policy decisions. Central questions still need to be addressed, mainly how policy should be better informed about the benefits, harms and unintended consequences of any of any interventions. There is also a clear need to improve the communication of scientific findings and evidence to enable more effective decision-making, especially about how scientists can most effectively advise governments. Methods to assess the cost-effectiveness of pandemic NPIs are urgently needed to allocate scarce resources efficiently. Additionally, it is paramount to minimise waste, identify substandard and misleading studies, and improve communication, including the management of a parallel infodemic for more effective pandemic policies.