EPIC11 | National Workshop | Czech Republic

Register
23–24 October 2025
Ministry of Health
Palackého náměstí 375, 128 00 Prague Hlavní město Praha, Czechia

Strengthening Prevention, Preparedness and Response to threats, focussing on the PHEPA Assessment and One Health

Background

The National Workshop in Czech Republic is part of a service contract procured by HaDEA on behalf of the European Commission (EC). The acronym EPIC11 (i.e. Emergency Preparedness Integrated Courses carried out under Article 11 of the Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 on serious cross-border threats to health (SCBTH) (hereafter “the Regulation”) was coined to facilitate the referencing to this service contract during project implementation. The project focuses on providing prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) training for SCBTH in EU Member States and European Economic Area (EEA) countries. The project was devised in response to the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) call for tenders HaDEA/2022/OP/0017 on ‘EU preparedness: analysis, planning, reporting and training programmes for health specialists’.

One of the operational objectives is to strengthen PPR planning with targeted training and knowledge-exchange activities for healthcare and public health staff (Article 11 of the Regulation).

The aim of the project is to develop an EU Health Preparedness Training Programme that responds to the needs of PPR planners, managers and practitioners, and which addresses current gaps in EU Member States and EEA countries in relation to PPR planning. This EU Health Preparedness Training Programme complements existing training programmes developed and managed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the EC’s policy departments (DGs), such as DG SANTE, DG HERA, DG ECHO and others, as well as joint actions, various EU-level projects, universities, training institutes and national institutions.

The project is implemented by GFA Consulting Group GmbH (DE) and its partners: KIT Royal Tropical Institute (NL) and Think Modular (AT).

The overall project vision is to strengthen PPR capacities for future public health emergencies within and across countries through training. The EU Health Preparedness Training Programme will support EU Member States and EEA countries to:

  • build knowledge and skills for more resilient management of health crises; and
  • strengthen communication, collaboration and coordination within and between countries.

In 2026, the Czech Republic will undergo a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) in accordance with Article 8 of the SCBTH Regulation. To prepare for this, a National Workshop will be convened to foster a shared understanding of the significance of this process and the most effective ways to prepare for the assessment. The workshop will also address the potential need to develop national multisectoral PPR plans. Bringing together experts and stakeholders from diverse sectors and networks, the event will aim to enhance participants’ understanding of the EU assessment framework for preparedness and response, thereby strengthening national capacity in this area.

Aims and objectives

This national workshop will bring together representatives from a wide range of departments and sectors to strengthen understanding of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) and the specific preparatory actions required from each sector. It will foster a shared understanding of how the assessment can support Czechia through recommendations from the European Commission and the ECDC to address capacity gaps and enhance the country’s overall preparedness and response. The workshop will also promote knowledge exchange and collaboration among the various sectors involved in PPR planning. Participants will work jointly to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for developing comprehensive, multi-stakeholder PPR plans for the Czech Republic.

The specific objectives of the workshop are to:

  • Strengthen coordination, collaboration and networking among the relevant stakeholders across all involved ministries and sectors of the Czech Republic involved in PPR planning.
  • Raise awareness and build a shared understanding among stakeholders of the new Health Security Framework (HSF), with a particular focus on Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 on Cross-Border Threats to Health, and the PHEPA process.
  • Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in national PPR efforts to inform the PHEPA assessment and support the development of a targeted action plan.
  • Discuss strategies for developing comprehensive, multi-stakeholder PPR plans, grounded in an all hazards and One Health approach
  • Set priorities, develop, and agree on the next steps in a roadmap for further action.

This National Workshop is organised and hosted by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, with support from the project. The objectives and methodology have been developed in close consultation with, and endorsed by, the host organisation. The goals, programme and terminology used in this document reflect the host’s strategic priorities and preferences.

Date and location

Dates: 23–24 October 2025

Time: From 09:00–16:30. A networking dinner will be offered at the ned of Day 1

Venue: Ministry of Health in Prague, Palackého nám. 375, 128 00 Nové Město, Prague, Czech Republic

Language: The event will be conducted primarily in Czech, with sessions delivered by international speakers held in English and accompanied by simultaneous interpretation into Czech.

Methodology

The National Workshop will be conducted in person, with certain sessions delivered online by international speakers. The programme is designed to balance concise plenary sessions with focused working group discussions and practical exercises, thereby fostering both knowledge-sharing and action-oriented planning.

The workshop will feature presentations by external experts, case studies, interactive plenary discussions, and moderated group work aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills for preparing for the PHEPA mission and strengthening PPR planning. It will also incorporate lessons learned and experiences from EU Member States that have already hosted a PHEPA mission, including their progress in developing PPR plans.

Participants will receive preparatory materials in advance to ensure a shared understanding of key concepts and reference documents.

  • Day 1 will focus on understanding the EU Health Security Framework and Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 on Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health, as well as the preparations required for the ECDC review under the Article 8 assessment. Discussions will address the status of PPR planning in the Czech Republic and explore ways to strengthen it through collaborative approaches.
  • Day 2 will highlight One Health plans and strategies, followed by in-depth discussions on the requirements for improving PPR planning in the Czech Republic. Participants will work towards reaching consensus on priority actions needed to prepare for the PHEPA assessment and to develop a comprehensive national PPR plan.

This format is intended to ensure that all participants develop a clear understanding of the significance of the PHEPA assessment and the importance of close intersectoral collaboration in preparation for the mission. It will also help to identify gaps and challenges that must be addressed in the longer term to enhance prevention, preparedness, and response strategies. By combining expert insights, participatory methodologies, practical exercises, and strategic discussions, the workshop aims to strengthen the Czech Republic’s emergency preparedness capabilities in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.

Target audience

The National Workshop will bring together 35 participants from a broad range of sectors engaged in all-hazard prevention, preparedness, and response planning. Participants will include representatives from the Ministries of Transport, Finance, Defence, Interior, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Education, and Labour and Social Affairs. In addition, the workshop will involve representatives from the Directorate General of the Fire Rescue Service, Police Presidium, State Material Reserves Administration, State Office for Nuclear Safety, State and Central Veterinary Administration, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and the Czech Health Research Council (AZV ČR). From the Ministry of Health, participants will include the Chief Public Health Officer, representatives from the Public Health Protection Department, regional public health authorities, relevant departments and divisions of the Ministry, as well as the National Institute of Public Health and the State Institute for Drug Control.

Outcomes

The National Workshop will bring together diverse sectors and stakeholders to discuss the forthcoming PHEPA mission, identify ways to strengthen national PPR plans, and underscore that preparedness is not solely a responsibility of the health sector. In the longer term, the workshop is expected to contribute to improved national and regional planning for the prevention, preparedness, and response to serious cross-border threats to health. Increased awareness and a shared understanding among the main stakeholders of the new EU Health Security Framework, its importance and implications for Member States, and the objectives and expected outcomes of the PHEPA assessment. Specifically, the workshop is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

  • Strengthened intersectoral collaboration and networking among national stakeholders from various sectors involved in PPR planning, leading to clearer roles and responsibilities, reduced overlaps, and improved accountability.
  • A comprehensive assessment of gaps and opportunities in the development and implementation of PPR plans and a clearer understanding of how to improve and develop these PPR plans in the Czech Republic.
  • Defined priorities and concrete recommendations in preparation for the PHEPA assessment under Article 8 of EU Regulation 2022/2371 scheduled for 2026.  It is expected to result in a structured roadmap that integrates key priority areas into the national PPR capacities.
  • A stronger commitment to take these challenges seriously and continue addressing them by all sectors.

While the workshop's expected outcomes are short to medium term, participant satisfaction is a critical indicator of the workshop's effectiveness in meeting its objectives. The evaluation of the National Workshop will focus on assessing participants’ satisfaction through a short survey conducted at the end of the event, aiming to gather immediate feedback on the workshop's organisation, content relevance, and overall delivery.

Preparatory materials

 

   Workshop Team

  • Kateřina Baťhová - Ministry of Health, Director of the Department of International Affairs and the European Union (in matters concerning the organisational arrangements for the workshop
  • Tomáš Čermák - Ministry of Health, PHEPA preparation team
  • Tomáš Tóth - Ministry of Health, PHEPA preparation team
  • Irina Stirbu - Wagner - Senior Advisor at KIT Institute, The Netherlands - EPIC 11 Team
  • Leona Aschentrup - Public Health Consultant at GFA Consulting Group, Germany - EPIC 11 Team
  • Andrew Amato Gauci - Senior Public Health Consultant - EPIC 11 Team
  • Valbona Zefi - Event Manager at GFA Consulting Group, Germany - EPIC 11 Team
23–24 October 2025
Ministry of Health
Palackého náměstí 375, 128 00 Prague Hlavní město Praha, Czechia