4.F. Round table: Strengthening the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: HERA’s Role and Activities

Abstract This workshop aims to present in detail and examine the establishment, mandate, work and strategy of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). A detailed presentation of HERA's role and activities will encompass an overview of its governance structure (the Advisory Forum for European Union (EU) Members States (MSs) and the Civil Society Forum (CSF), where entities like EUPHA interact to provide structured input), capturing key aspects of the work of the years since its establishment, its future strategy. It also aims to increase awareness and understanding of how HERA operates towards allowing informed dialogue with the public and global health community across the region. In more detail, HERA will be outlining its mandate, key achievements (including its response during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Mpox outbreak, incl. discussion on the alignment with the Global Health Strategy), and to establish future priorities for strengthening the EU's resilience to health emergencies. EUPHA's GH and IDC section strategies will be discussed in the second part of the session via an interactive element, with input collected during EUPHW to identify key topics of interest, and continuing this effort during EPH2025. Areas of cooperation will be established, with input from the chairs of the IDC and GH sections, and from the representatives of EUPHA to HERA chairing this session. Key input will also be provided from EUPHA LAW in terms of how interaction can be structured and facilitated given the evolving HERA mandate and its work agreements with the ECDC and the EMA. Key messages • HERA ensures key MCMs are developed, available, and equitably distributed, while addressing market gaps and supply chain challenges. Awareness of its role is critical for the public health community. • HERA leads preparedness and response efforts, from intelligence and MCM planning to research, manufacturing, and procurement. Strategy and action are shaped through sound governance mechanisms.