European Health Union: HERA launches its first annual work plan with € 1.3 billion
The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is a key pillar of the European Health Union and a fundamental asset to strengthen the EU’s health emergency response and preparedness. HERA was created with a dual purpose: to detect future health threats and respond to those threats. In response to the first objective, HERA will carry out threat assessments with related information gathering, in order to develop models for the response at EU level; Regarding the second objective, HERA will act to respond to cross-border public health emergencies at EU level through the activation of emergency funding and monitoring mechanisms with the aim of adopting the necessary medical countermeasures.
On February 10, 2022, HERA presented its first annual work plan which provides a budget of € 1.3 billion in 2022 to prevent, prepare and respond rapidly to cross-border health emergencies. Now, HERA can take action to strengthen the EU preparedness and response capacity to address vulnerabilities and help strengthen the architecture of the global health emergency.
Announcing the adoption of the work plan at the informal EPSCO Council in Grenoble, Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “Two years into the pandemic, we know that the capacity to respond decisively to cross-border health emergencies must be at the heart of a strong European Health Union. HERA is already operational and working to ensure that medical countermeasures are available for the present, but also ensuring that the right tools are available for any future health threats. The adoption of HERA’s first work plan will enable it to begin its critical mission, by becoming the EU’s health security watchtower for future health threats, as well as a key player for health crisis preparedness at global level. “
PREPAREDNESS PHASE
In this first phase, HERA will work closely with other national and EU health agencies, research communities, civil society and international partners with the aim of preparing the EU for future health emergencies. A serious of actions will be implemented at this stage. Among them, a budget of € 300 million has been set aside for research and development against emerging threats.
Responding quickly to future health crises means creating a strong and resilient health system able of addressing these challenges. In this context, nursing research plays a key and essential role. Nurses and nursing researchers are well aware of what the health system needs to become “a perfect machine” able of guaranteeing quality care. At this stage, HERA becomes a strong ally for nursing researchers by providing a huge budget of € 300 million. This opportunity represents a great instrument to make the difference.
More research and innovation, for a better healthcare ecosystem in EU!