Workshop in Norway explored governance mechanisms for Public Health and Social Measures during health emergencies

The one-day hybrid event brought together 28 senior professionals from multiple sectors and levels in Norway, including the Ministry of Health and Care Services, civil protection, defence, animal health, law enforcement as well as regional and local public health authorities The workshop format, which was developed by ECDC, was pilot-tested in Norway in collaboration with the Norwegian Public Health Institute. It aims to support countries in strengthening their approaches to the design, implementation, and evaluation of PHSMs in response to serious cross-border threats to health.

Participants discussed how PHSMs, formerly known as non-pharmaceutical interventions, are integrated into national preparedness plans, who is responsible for activating these mechanisms, and what information is required to inform their implementation and evaluation. The sessions also examined the role of international organisations, including ECDC and the World Health Organization – also present as an observer in this workshop – in supporting coordinated responses across Europe.

The workshop was developed in the context of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 on serious cross-border threats to health, specifically addressing question A.6.5 of the related Implementing Act on governance mechanisms for PHSMs. It builds on activities in previous years to develop a global nomenclature and to enhance the evidence base for certain PHSMs – measures that played a central role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be key tools in future health emergencies.

Facilitated by ECDC experts, the workshop provided an open and collaborative environment that encouraged in-depth dialogue and knowledge exchange among participants. Based on this experience, ECDC will encourage other EU/EEA countries to host these national workshops.