WHO’s initiative on preparedness and resilience for emerging threats (PRET) helps countries better prepare for future epidemics and pandemics. The first face-to-face workshop in the WHO European Region to roll-out the initiative coincided with the launch of WHO/Europe’s plan for transition from the acute phase of COVID-19. Over 3 days in Istanbul, 56 public health officials and high-level government decision-makers from the western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova discussed approaches by European countries for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness in this new era. The workshop was organized with financial support from the European Union (EU).
PRET builds on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when most countries have shifted from an acute pandemic response mode to longer-term management of COVID-19, alongside other respiratory pathogens, having worked to identify strengths and gaps in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the importance and timeliness of countries in the Region in strengthening preparedness for future health emergencies, such as pandemics, based on lessons from COVID-19.
Pandemic planning
PRET answers the call for technical guidance and support for promoting and strengthening integrated preparedness and response, as outlined in World Health Assembly resolutions. Through the initiative, WHO will use a mode of transmission approach, rather than an approach focusing on specific diseases, to guide countries in pandemic planning, given that many systems, capacities and capabilities are common among groups of pathogens.
Dr Richard Pebody, High-threat Pathogen Team Lead at WHO/Europe said, “COVID-19 has shown the devastating impact a pandemic can have on people’s health and well-being, health systems and societies as a whole. Although we do not know when the next pandemic will happen, we do know that pandemics are recurring but unpredictable events. It is critical we ensure that all countries strengthen their preparedness for future pandemics and other health emergencies. This requires high-level commitment and long-term investments in pandemic preparedness and the WHO Regional Office for Europe is supporting its Member States in this endeavor.”
Modes of transmission
The first module of the PRET initiative focuses on respiratory pathogens, such as influenza and corona viruses. This module enables countries to review, test, and update their respiratory pandemic planning efforts to ensure they have the necessary capacities and capabilities for the next respiratory pandemic. Future modules of the PRET will focus on pathogens with other modes of transmission, such as arboviruses.
Inputs and discussions among meeting participants will help WHO and stakeholders to advance respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness, as PRET marks an evolution in WHO’s approach to pandemic preparedness through the application of a mode of transmission lens.
In April 2023, WHO launched the PRET initiative as well as a global Call to Action to strengthen pandemic preparedness by updating national pandemic plans, increasing connectivity among stakeholders, and ensuring dedicated investments in pandemic preparedness. PRET incorporates the latest tools and approaches for shared learning and collective action established during the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent public health emergencies.
The PRET initiative was organized within the EU-funded project ‘Strengthening and maintaining all-hazard preparedness and response capacities across the western Balkans region’. The 3-year project is being implemented by WHO in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo.*
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*All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).