Trust, risk, and the challenge of information sharing during a health emergency

Abstract

Information sharing is a critical element of an effective response to infectious disease outbreaks. The international system of coordination established through the World Health Organization via the International Health Regulations largely relies on governments to communicate timely and accurate information about health risk during an outbreak. This information supports WHO’s decision making process for declaring a public health emergency of international concern. It also aides the WHO to work with governments to coordinate efforts to contain cross-border outbreaks.Given the importance of information sharing by governments, it is not surprising that governments that withhold or delay sharing information about outbreaks within their borders are often condemned by the international community for non-compliance with the International Health Regulations. The barriers to rapid and transparent information sharing are numerous. While governments must be held accountable for delaying or withholding information, in many cases non-compliance may be a rational response to real and perceived risks rather than a problem of technical incapacity or a lack of political commitment. Improving adherence to the International Health Regulations will require a long-term process to build trust that incorporates recognizing and mitigating the potential and perceived risks of information sharing.

The Whistleblower's Dilemma: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Early Warning System for Public Health Emergency

“…However, this kind of mechanism would influence the timeliness of publishing pandemic information to a certain extent, and is prone to distort and misjudge the early warning information during transmission (Lencucha & Bandara, 2021). As a result, it might cause remarkable deficiencies in pandemic prevention, controlling and management.…”

“…From another perspective, the local government can help the public better understand the infectious disease through timely disclosing the information, reducing the social confusion and panic and promoting the public's volunteering participation in preventing and controlling the disease. Therefore, timely disclosure of early warning information has a significant positive effect on the trust and satisfaction in government (Lencucha & Bandara, 2021;Liu et al, 2021). Thus, there is an inherent contradiction between the timeliness and accuracy of information disclosure, and the game equilibrium between the two becomes an important consideration for the local government to respond to the early warning information.…”

“…If the local government adopts the active response strategy, such as organizing medical professionals to carry out timely research and evaluation, and improving the efficiency of information publication, which will bring a positive effect on the credibility of the local government (Hyland-Wood et al, 2021). While the local government chooses the cautious strategy, such as relaxing the vigilance or not paying full attention to early warning information, which will bring a negative impact on the credibility of the local government and seriously hinder the management of the pandemics (Hyland-Wood et al, 2021;Lencucha & Bandara, 2021). At the same time, the whistleblower, as the first party with access to information about a potential risk, will have a high reputation for timely early warnings.…”

The Whistleblower’s Dilemma: An Evolutionary Game Analysis of Public Health Early Warning System

“…From another perspective, the local government can help the public better understand the infectious disease through timely disclosing the information, reducing the social confusion and panic and promoting the public's volunteering participation in preventing and controlling the disease. Therefore, timely disclosure of early warning information has a significant positive effect on the trust and satisfaction in government (18,19). Thus, there is an inherent contradiction between the timeliness and accuracy of information disclosure, and the game equilibrium between the two becomes an important consideration for the local government to respond to the early warning information.…”

“…The vertical reporting of pandemic information in multiple level system ensures the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information and thus reduces social panic (17). However, this kind of mechanism would influence the timeliness of publishing pandemic information to a certain extent, and is prone to distort and misjudge the early warning information during transmission (18).…”