Futureproofing the WHO European Region from respiratory pathogen pandemics

The WHO Regional Office for Europe emphasizes the importance of preparedness and learning from past pandemics, which are operationalized through the implementation of the global Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative. As part of this process and to test its newly revised pandemic plan, Kosovo [1] has recently conducted the first PRET simulation exercise in the region.

To mitigate the risk and impact of future pandemics, it is essential to maintain focus on respiratory pathogens with pandemic potential. Since the launch of PRET in April 2023, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has conducted a series of activities to promote the PRET initiative approach and to ensure that Member States actively review the response to COVID-19 and use key lessons to build stronger national preparedness for the next pandemic. 

Since 2023, a series of subregional PRET activities have been held, followed by bilateral support to specific Member States to strengthen pandemic preparedness. This support included the necessary process of revising pandemic plans incorporating lessons from COVID-19.  This includes clarifying roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, involving community leaders to disseminate key messages, strengthening deployment mechanisms for pandemic vaccines, implementing electronic surveillance systems, and mapping capacities of health facilities. Several countries and areas have completed or are nearing completion of revised pandemic plans.

PRET Simulation Exercise in Kosovo [1]

From 22 to 24 September 2024 in Pristina, Kosovo [1], 20 experts, all considered essential for pandemic preparedness and response, participated in a simulation exercise. Testing pandemic plans is a pivotal part of thorough pandemic preparedness, ensuring that those involved are aware of the processes and steps required to enact it, including their roles and responsibilities in both pandemic planning and response. 

Lessons from COVID-19 demonstrate that preparedness works. Through the simulation exercise, gaps can be identified before it’s too late – this facilitates the development and revision of plans, identifies areas for training and capacity building, and consolidates multisectoral partnerships. It ensures preparedness at all levels from national to sub-national, protecting the region as a whole.

Dr Pranvera Kaçaniku Gunga, an epidemiologist and Head of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit at the Institute of Public Health in Kosovo [1], commented that conducting a simulation exercise “enabled testing the Action Plan for Preparedness, Prevention, Response, and Resilience for pandemics with respiratory pathogens” and gave the participants ”an opportunity at national level to identify gaps, strengths and possibility to improve key components.”

Simulation exercises and wider health emergency planning

Updating and testing pandemic preparedness plans are among the indicators measured as part of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution High-Level Implementation Plan. Pandemic planning, including conducting simulation exercises, contributes to and complements preparedness for other health emergencies resulting from, for example, extreme weather or other hazards, and the pandemic planning process is aligned with processes such as National Action Planning for Health Security (NAPHS) and all-hazards preparedness and response planning.

[1] All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

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