The Commission has published a report assessing the work of the Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) since its creation over three years ago. The report highlights HERA’s achievements in strengthening EU-level preparedness and response capacities, as well as taking on new tasks, such as addressing the supply chain aspects of critical medicines shortages.
The report acknowledges HERA’s central position in the EU’s reinforced health security framework, helping to ensure that the EU is better equipped to develop, produce and deploy the medical products needed to respond to health threats. At the same time, it identifies areas where improvements are needed to make the most of HERA’s potential to protect citizens and reinforce Europe’s preparedness.
HERA strengthens the EU’s preparedness and health security
While HERA was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s report demonstrates the effectiveness, efficiency and continued relevance of its work to enhance EU-level coordination for health emergency preparedness and response.
The report also acknowledges that having a structure dedicated to medical countermeasures for pandemic preparedness and response plays an important part in enhancing policy coherence and in providing clear EU added value in health security, notably in joint procurement and stockpiling of medical countermeasures.
Recommendations to maximise HERA’s impact
The review acknowledges that HERA’s particular structure within the Commission allows close and constant relations with key stakeholders, such as Member States, industry, civil society and EU agencies. This has positively contributed to ensuring effective joint European action and cooperation with global actors to enhance health security.
The report also sheds light on areas where further work is needed, with some steps already under way:
- Reinforcing synergies between HERA and the European Centre for Disease Protection and Control, the European Medicines Agency, the Health Security Committee and the Advisory Committee on Public Health Emergencies.
- Enhancing coordination and cooperation with Member States in all stages of HERA’s activities, as well as streamlining the role of the HERA Board.
- Ensuring flexibility in HERA’s work in the area of preparedness.
- Optimising funding by ensuring access to funding mechanisms suitable for HERA’s objectives, taking into consideration the budgetary context.
- Continuing to effectively communicate HERA’s activities.
Given the many actors and policy areas that contribute to health emergency preparedness and response, HERA will continue to prioritise seamless and strengthened cooperation with all stakeholders in its work.
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