Preparedness and Response Planning for All-Hazards in the Slovak Republic ahead of the PHEPA Assessment
This national workshop is conducted within the framework of the EPIC11 project (Emergency Preparedness Integrated Courses), which develops a training programme in preparedness for EU Member States and EEA countries. The EPIC11 project is funded by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and supported by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) covering the area of "EU Preparedness: Analysis, Planning, Reporting and Training Programmes for Health Professionals." EPIC11 focuses on the provision of Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPR) trainings under Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health (SCBTH). The project aims to achieve this through targeted knowledge exchange and training for healthcare and public health professionals (Article 11 SCBTH).
EPIC11 has created a comprehensive training programme that takes into account the specific context of individual Member States while also responding to the needs of health professionals. The programme addresses existing gaps in PPR across all EU Member States and three EEA countries. Implementation is ensured by a consortium led by GFA Consulting Group GmbH (Germany), KIT Royal Tropical Institute (the Netherlands), and Think Modular (Austria).
The vision is to enable a more robust response to future public health emergencies within and among countries.
The training programme supports the 27 EU Member States and 3 EEA countries in:
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building knowledge and skills for more resilient prevention, preparedness, and response planning across all bodies and agencies dealing with threats to human health;
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improving communication and coordination within and between countries.
The training programme recognises the diversity of national systems and focuses on:
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a multi-hazard approach to health threats,
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intersectoral and international environments,
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addressing serious cross-border threats to health.
The EPIC11 programme is intended to complement training activities organised by the ECDC, WHO, and other institutions.
Aims and objectives
This workshop aims to increase collaboration of the various sectors involved in PPR planning in preparation for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments (PHEPA) mission due at the end of September 2025. The workshop should also serve to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in developing comprehensive, multi-stakeholder PPR plans for the Slovak Republic.
Objectives
This workshop is conducted within the framework of the EPIC11 training programme and provides an opportunity to:
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learn more about the implementation of the new Health Security Framework (HSF), with a particular focus on EU Regulation 2022/2371 on Cross-Border Health Threats,
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create networking opportunities among relevant stakeholders,
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achieve a common understanding in preparation for the PHEPA mission in Q3 2025.
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discuss and adapt national PPR planning (including pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response planning).
The specific objectives of this National Workshop are:
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enhance the understanding of key stakeholders from all relevant ministries and sectors on the implementation of the new Health Security Framework (HSF), with particular emphasis on EU Regulation 2022/2371 concerning serious cross-border threats to health.brief these stakeholders on the upcoming PHEPA mission to the Slovak Republic (29 September – 3 October 2025), including the legal basis and purpose and what preparations are required from the Slovak officials.
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identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in the development and implementation of PPR plans, focusing on the five core capacities that will be assessed in depth during the PHEPA mission: laboratories, surveillance, health emergency management, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and zoonotic diseases/One Health.
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identify, examine, and resolve ambiguities, gaps, or overlaps in roles and responsibilities among stakeholders, with a focus on the five core capacities to be assessed. .
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set priorities, develop, and agree on the next steps in a roadmap for further action.
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build knowledge and capacities to facilitate the development of a comprehensive, multisectoral general PPR plan addressing the most prevalent threats.
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improve connections and networking among the relevant stakeholders across all involved ministries and sectors of the Slovak Republic.
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provide the opportunity to inform the relevant Slovak stakeholders about the role and support that can be expected from the ECDC, with an address by the ECDC Director, Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner.
