HERA's training and exercise programme
Strengthening knowledge and skills in preparedness and response related to medical countermeasures is essential to improve European preparedness and response capacity to cross-border threats to health and is one of HERA's main tasks.
Ensuring timely and equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, personal protective equipment (PPE) or other medical devices to all EU Member States, and secure solidarity are essential to save lives in any public health crisis. It is essential to continuously reinforce technical and operational capacities at EU and EU Member States levels, strengthen EU coordination, ensure clear and swift decision-making procedures, streamline communication processes and the sharing of information. Training and simulation exercises are key to enhance coordination and build capacity of those involved on all aspects related to medical countermeasures.
In close collaboration with EU Member States, HERA is currently developing a tailored training and exercise programme that will specifically aim at:
- Strengthening EU Member States skills and knowledge on the full cycle of management of medical countermeasures needed to respond to a cross-border health crisis, improving overall EU Member States' preparedness and response capacity to public health emergencies;
- Sharing best practices and lessons learnt from past and ongoing cross-border health crises among EU Member States, and eventual third countries and international organisations on management of medical countermeasures;
- Fostering and developing common policy approaches aimed at ensuring availability and equitable accessibility of medical countermeasures, including in the medium and long-term;
- Supporting and enhancing coordination among the EU and EU Member States to ensure access and availability of medical countermeasures in case of cross border health crises.
