3rd Health Programme 2014-2020 Joint Action to strengthen preparedness in the EU against serious cross-border threats to health and support the implementation of the International Health Regulations Luxembourg, 2 February 2018
Background Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border threats to health Health protection in Europe IHR Laboratories Building on/link with other Health Programme initiatives Joint Action EMERGE on 'Efficient response to highly dangerous and emerging pathogens at EU level' (2015-2018) Joint Action "Healthy Gateways on preparedness and action at points of entry" to be launched in 2018 Consider links and complementarity with relevant EU policies and initiatives
Decision 1082/2013/EU on serious cross-border threats to health Provides for a comprehensive and coordinated approach for preparedness, early warning, risk assessment and crisis response Supports Member States to fight cross-border health threats such as communicable diseases, but also chemical, environmental and unknown threats Provides for an instrument at EU level to support the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR).
Preparedness Article 4 of Decision 1082 aims at ensuring adequate coordination between the Member States to achieve a consistent level of preparedness and interoperability between the existing and future national preparedness plans Reporting of Member States in every 3 years Sharing best practice and experience in preparedness and response planning Promoting interoperability of national preparedness plans Supporting implementation of core-capacity requirements for surveillance and response (as per Art. 5 and 13 of the IHR) Addressing intersectoral dimension of preparedness and response planning at Union level
Relevant EU policy frameworks DG SANTE DG ECHO DG HOME DG GROW-EEAS DG RTD DG DEVCO DG ECHO-JRC DG EEAS Frameworks for food safety and animal health and for pharmaceutical products EU Civil Protection Mechanism, European Medical Corps, European Voluntary Aid Corps European Agenda on Security, Security Union; EU CBRN Action Plan EU Joint Framework on countering hybrid threats EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 Bilateral programmes - IHR implementation within health systems strengthening and promoting universal health coverage EU Action Plan on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy
Relevance of IHR for this Joint Action Under IHR it is a minimum requirement to have the necessary capacities and be ready to respond to health threats. This Joint Action will further develop core capacities and increase standards in Member States in this respect. The overarching goal is to strengthen IHR implementation and preparedness, to support capacity building and to contribute to a high level of protection of health and security in EU Member States in line with the EU health security framework. Implementation should take place in coordination in particular with the WHO s IHR draft 5-year Global Implementation Plan, the elements of the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, and implementation of the Health Emergencies Programme.
EU work on preparedness focusing on Enhanced country knowledge and targeted support for better preparedness Improved situational awareness, early warning and response to all threats Improved access to medical countermeasures and rapid deployment in case of emergency Strengthened cooperation and collective capability at EU level, achieving full compliance with the IHR in all EU Member States Enhanced health and security interface as a contribution to the Security Union Strengthened global health preparedness, international cooperation
Action plan on preparedness and IHR implementation for the Health Security Committee 2017-2019 Technical action plan developed with support of and implemented with ECDC in collaboration with WHO/Europe Areas for action identified based on: 2015 Council conclusions on Lessons learned for Public Health from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa 2016 Special Report of the European Court of Auditors: Dealing with serious cross-border threats to health in the EU: important steps taken but more needs to be done Reporting of Member States on preparedness and response planning under Article 4 of Decision 1082/2013/EU, next Report to be prepared for the HSC 2018 Q1
Priority areas of the Action plan on preparedness and IHR implementation policy development (on vaccination and on infectious diseases threats) and adoption of implementing acts enhanced coordination with Member States through the HSC and working groups cross-sectoral capacity building, exchange of knowledge and best practices re-engineering the Early Warning and Response System enhancing monitoring and evaluation of actions under Decision 1082/2013/EU in alignment with the WHO IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework improving the access to medical countermeasures and rapid deployment in case of emergency enhancing the health and security interface and preparedness and response to terror attacks improving risk and crisis communication laboratory strengthening through a consolidated laboratory practice enhancing preparedness and action at points of entry
Overall objectives of the Joint Action The work is part of a wider approach to strengthen the resilience and response capacities of health systems, and to ensure coherence and interoperability for preparedness and response planning to health threats at national, EU and regional level. Two areas of action to improve preparedness and response planning for serious crossborder threats and the implementation of IHR in EU Member States, EEA and neighbouring countries. to improving the core functions of public health laboratories, by the coordination, in collaboration with ECDC, of a reference network of European microbiology laboratories specialised in highly pathogenic or newly emerging pathogens to improve laboratory capacity Budget: EUR 7 900 000 Activities EU Health Programme 2018 Annual Work Programme Annex: https://ec.europa.eu/health/funding/programme/adoption_workplan _2018_en
Objectives preparedness To plan and implement targeted actions to strengthen preparedness and the implementation of IHR core capacities To support Member States in developing standard operating procedures, business continuity plans, and promoting the interoperability of national preparedness planning; To support cross-sectoral capacity building for preparedness and response, to share best practices and identify synergistic approaches for efficient collaboration between the health and other critical sectors; To improve EU Member States coordination in view of the EU and the global emergency preparedness context, and in particular the WHO s IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework under the World Health Emergencies Programme; To focus on security threats of biological and chemical origin, preparedness, information exchange and cross-sectoral response, through mechanisms for rapid mobilisation of resources and medical countermeasures across borders.
Laboratory core capacities under IHR Under IHR, countries should detect, investigate and report, potential public health emergencies of international concern. A credible and accessible laboratory service capable of producing reliable results in a timely manner is a cornerstone of country's capacity or investigate such events. In many countries reliable confirmation of outbreaks is hindered by a lack of standardised methods, funds, trained staff and laboratory supplies. Public health laboratory services are weak and fragmented in some countries, potentially leading to a lack oversight, poor quality and safety.
Previous laboratory support under the EU Health Programme The EU Human Pathogen Reference Laboratories Options Project (EURLOP) developed strategic options for an overarching EU reference laboratory system for different classes of pathogens. A cost-benefit analysis on the options to strengthen the existing coordination of reference microbiology provision in the EU was not included in the EURLOP study. The EMERGE Joint Action was established for the implementation of an efficient response to highly dangerous and emerging pathogens at EU level, in line with the Commissions mandate under Decision 1082/2013/EU with regards to Health Security, preparedness and emergency response coordination.
Objectives laboratory strengthening To strengthen laboratory capacities and capability to detect, investigate and report potential cross-border threats to health or public health emergencies of international concern, such as disease outbreaks; To ensure responsive and state-of-the-art laboratory services capable of producing reliable results in a timely manner; To coordinate a network of European microbiology laboratories for highly pathogenic agents with the aim to strengthen laboratory preparedness and supporting lessequipped Member States through technological transfer; To standardise common diagnostic procedures, to conduct regular External Quality Assessments for highly pathogenic agents and provide practical training to staff.
Thank you! EU Commission Public Health: https://ec.europa.eu/health/ Health Policy Platform: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/hpf/ EU_Health @ Twitter: https://twitter.com/eu_health