The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, by its acronym in English) has completed the first cycle of "Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments" (PHEPA), in which a "firm commitment" to preparedness for health crises throughout "all of Europe" has been noted, although also the existence of "several common challenges," among them "the lack of staff."
According to the agency, the challenges detected are "recurring" and "require attention." Among them are "prevention, preparedness and response plans that are not always implemented," as well as "limitations in data exchange and systems that can function jointly." In addition, "deficiencies in the translation of data into policy decisions" have been identified.
Following the assessments carried out since 2024 in each country of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), aimed at reviewing prevention, preparedness and response planning against public health threats and crises, the ECDC has noted that "many countries made a great effort to strengthen such preparedness after the Covid-19 pandemic."
Basic capacities and improvement recommendations
In this context, national authorities have set up specific governance structures and have strengthened laboratory and epidemiological surveillance capacities. "In general, basic capacities, such as laboratory systems, surveillance and health emergency management, are solid," the agency concluded, although it accompanied this diagnosis with recommendations to continue strengthening these areas, especially risk communication and coordination mechanisms.
The analysis has been carried out in close collaboration with the European Commission, the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners. This joint work has made it possible to offer advice on advanced intersectoral planning, the formalization of coordination between different sectors and the periodic assessment of the degree of preparedness through specific exercises.
Once this first cycle of PHEPA is concluded, the ECDC has expressed its confidence that the governments of the EU will turn the information gathered "into practical measures for improvement." The results "will serve as the basis for targeted support to countries, in order to help them implement the recommendations," the agency has stated. Likewise, it has specified that the conclusions obtained will set the priorities of the second cycle, scheduled between 2027 and 2029, which will focus more on national action plans and on progress in the implementation of the recommendations formulated in this first round of assessments.