ARC: An Open Web-Platform for Request/Supply Matching for a Prioritized and Controlled COVID-19 Response

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Biotechnology
• Information Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused global shortages of critical medical equipment and personnel.
• Existing supply chains were strained, limiting access to essential resources for hospitals and diagnostic labs.
• The need for agile, coordinated resource allocation became apparent during the crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a web-based platform for matching critical laboratory needs with available academic resources.
• To facilitate the coordination, prioritization, and validation of resource allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide a customizable, open-source solution for disaster relief efforts.

Main Methods:

• Development of a tailor-made, web-based platform named Academic Resources for COVID-19 (ARC).
• The ARC Platform connects specialized needs of diagnostic laboratories with academic research groups.
• Implementation of a system for coordinating, prioritizing, and validating resource needs and offers.

Main Results:

• The ARC Platform successfully facilitated the sourcing of critical laboratory equipment and expertise from unconventional channels in Switzerland.
• It enabled diagnostic laboratories to meet specialized needs by leveraging academic resources.
• The platform provided crisis response coordinators with control over the resource allocation process.

Conclusions:

• The ARC Platform demonstrated an effective model for resource management during a global health crisis.
• The open-source release of the underlying technology allows for broader adoption in future disaster relief efforts.
• Web-based platforms can enhance the resilience of healthcare systems by optimizing resource utilization.