Event highlights
15 February 2024
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on the development of the strategy and action plan on health emergency preparedness, response and resilience (Preparedness 2.0) in the WHO European Region gathered virtually for its fourth meeting on 15–16 January 2024.
During the meeting, the Preparedness 2.0 TAG discussed the ongoing work of the 5 TAG working groups (TWGs) under each of the thematic health emergency preparedness and response (HEPR) “5C” areas (collaborative surveillance, community protection, safe and scalable care, access to countermeasures, and emergency coordination).
“We, the multidisciplinary Technical Advisory Group, continue to work enthusiastically, advising the WHO European Region on what to focus on in the new regional strategy and action plan – Preparedness 2.0 – to try to ensure that we are better prepared. There is never any time to waste, and we look forward to collaborating with those who will implement any recommendations,” summarized Dr Gail Carson, Preparedness 2.0 TAG Co-Chair.
“In 2022 Member States of the WHO European Region mandated the WHO Regional Office for Europe to initiate the Preparedness 2.0 process in close consultation with Member States. We are looking forward to soon be starting a series of consultations, which will also be complemented by an information session for civil society and non-state actors – with the aim to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are offered the opportunity to advise on the content and process of Preparedness 2.0,” explained Dr Gundo Weiler, acting WHO Regional Emergency Director.
“Thanks to the wisdom and broad experience brought by the TAG, alongside Member States’ contributions to and guidance on the process in the upcoming consultations, the WHO European Region is well equipped to deliver the new strategy and action plan on health emergency preparedness, response and resilience, that is fit for purpose and ensures continuation of operations and country support in the interim until the legal and normative global health security architecture changes have settled,” concluded Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
For more information, please contact mailto:eurocpi@who.int.
More resources can also be found online via the links.
Event notice
15 – 16 January 2024
In the WHO European Region, the 72nd session of the Regional Committee for Europe mandated the WHO Regional Office for Europe to start the process of developing a new regional strategy and action plan on the strengthening of health emergency preparedness, response and resilience (Preparedness 2.0), in close consultation with Member States.
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Preparedness 2.0 was created to advise the WHO Regional Office for Europe on the development of the Preparedness 2.0 strategy and action plan in the WHO European Region. Its members, who reflect the diversity of the Region, were appointed by WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, in June 2023, following a series of open calls for experts in March–May 2023.
This fourth meeting of the Preparedness 2.0 TAG represents a key progress marker in the work of the TAG and the development of Preparedness 2.0. It will approve the concept note on the procedure for the work on developing Preparedness 2.0 for the Thirty-first Standing Committee of the Regional Committee and will work further to hone the content of the working document – also known as the strategy and action plan.
This will include the inputs from five TAG working groups related to the content of their thematic “5C” area (Collaborative surveillance, Community protection, safe and scalable Care, access to Countermeasures, and emergency Coordination), as well as meaningful consideration of how best to integrate input from the Member States of the WHO European Region during upcoming consultations.
The meeting will also include presentations on the WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work 2025–2028, risk atlas, and a Member State’s approach to readiness and resilience by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency to help the TAG provide advice and feedback on ideas for the substantive content of the strategy and action plan 2024–2029.
The expected outcomes are:
- consideration of what sessions with Member States and civil society organizations should focus on; and
- advice and feedback on ideas for the substantive content of Preparedness 2.0 strategy and action plan.