HEPSA – health emergency preparedness self-assessment tool

ECDC launched the HEPSA (Health Emergency Preparedness Self-Assessment) tool, in order to support countries in improving their level of public health emergency preparedness. The tool is worksheet-based and is targeted at professionals in public health organisations responsible for emergency planning and event management. It consists of seven domains that define the process of public health emergency preparedness and response: 1) Pre-event preparations and governance; 2) Resources: Trained workforce; 3) Support capacity: Surveillance; 4) Support capacity: Risk assessment; 5) Event response management; 6) Post-event review; 7) Implementation of lessons learned.

This tool is complemented by a user guide (available under 'Related publications') and an evaluation form.

The tool is now available in all EU/EEA languages.

The HEPSA tool was developed in 2017–2018, however the tool has not been updated since its initial publication and therefore does not fully align with the new EU legislative requirements for the structure of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) process (as requested in Article 8 of the Serious cross border health threats regulation, adopted in 2022). For more information regarding PHEPA please contact preparedness.response@ecdc.europa.eu.

Related publications