6.I. Round table: Strengthening preparedness for public health emergencies: lessons learned and future perspectives

Abstract   In the face of intensifying global health threats, robust health security measures in Europe and worldwide have never been more pressing. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for coordinated action, adaptive strategies, and robust collaborative mechanisms to effectively respond to emerging infectious diseases and other public health emergencies. This workshop serves as a platform to examine the multifaceted landscape of health security actors, focusing on collaborative initiatives and lessons learned from recent crises. By convening experts and stakeholders from across Europe, the workshop aims to achieve several key objectives: i) To provide an overview of collaborative initiatives established to strengthen European and international health security. By showcasing successful models of cooperation, participants will gain insights into effective strategies for fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders. ii) Emphasize the role of European and international institutions, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in supporting states both in coordinating regional response efforts and in developing the necessary health workforce competencies and capabilities to respond to health emergencies. iii) Drawing on experiences from recent health emergencies, including outbreaks of high-risk pathogens, such as Ebola, the workshop will facilitate a critical examination of lessons learned. Through interactive discussions, participants will identify challenges, best practices, and opportunities for enhancing preparedness and response capacity. iv) By interactive presentations and panel discussions, the workshop will provide a platform for knowledge exchange and networking among participants. By sharing experiences, expertise, and innovative approaches, participants will contribute to a collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities in strengthening health security. This workshop seeks to illuminate key strategies, capacity-building efforts, and real-world lessons learnt that contribute to enhancing response capabilities to public health emergencies. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of emergency participation mechanisms, essential skills required, and available training resources to enhance preparedness. Key messages • Collaboration and adaptive strategies are essential for strengthening international health security in the face of emerging infectious diseases and other public health emergencies. • Lessons learned from recent crises provide valuable insights into effective response strategies and opportunities for enhancing preparedness and response capacity.