Division 2.1.2.2 Generic preparedness and response (Annex — points 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)

Actions should aim to improve health sector preparedness for crisis situations and foster intersectoral collaboration (e.g. with civil protection, food and animal sectors) to ensure a coherent response to a crisis. Activities should focus on supporting risk and crisis management and risk communication aspects.

The following are of particular interest:

• activities that support the implementation of generic preparedness planning, as linking different health institutions (e.g. hospitals and crisis centres at national/regional level) to prepare for mass gathering and develop the capacity to mitigate the impact of mass emergencies (e.g. casualties and migration waves/floods, vulnerable groups, displaced persons and refugees). Activities are also needed to support business continuity during emergency situations (e.g. providing services of public health utility during an event of major impact);

• activities that increase the use of existing or new tools and instruments, including legal ones, to support the traceability of international passengers (e.g. tracing of air flight passengers in the event of potential contamination by pathogenic micro-organisms) and contact tracing;

• activities that support capacity building for joint law enforcement and health authority operations;

• activities in support of capacity building and implementation needed to comply with the International Health Regulations adopted by the World Health Assembly^f1 (e.g. mechanisms to trigger and implement tracing of international travellers when needed);

• the use of innovative information technology tools for health threat analysis, such as geographical information systems (GIS), spatial-temporal analysis, novel early warning and forecasting schemes, automated analysis and exchange of diagnostic data;

• way to address issues relating to transportation (e.g. exercise for mailing samples) and application of new diagnostics (e.g. ring tests on new/emerging pathogens).