SHARP partners work collaboratively to identify and address gaps in the capacity to prevent, detect and respond to biological, chemical and environmental threats to human health.
To support the implementation of Decision No 1082/2013/EU legislation that provides a framework for dealing with serious cross-border threats to health at national, EU and regional level
-To strengthen the resilience and response capacities of health systems
-To ensure coherence and interoperability for preparedness and response planning to health threats
The SHARP JA priorities
- Strengthening the scientific evidence base on effective actions to prevent and respond to cross-border health threats of biological, chemical, environmental and unknown origin
- Exchanging of information and sharing of best practices within and among Member States; -Strengthening preparedness and the implementation of IHR core capacities, supporting Member States in developing standard operating procedures, business continuity plans, and promoting the interoperability of national preparedness planning
- Improving methods, tools and criteria for monitoring, assessment and reporting under Decision1082/2013/EU
- Improving EU Member State coordination as regards different global initiatives, particularly the WHO’s IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework under the Health Emergencies Programme
- Improving the core functions of public health laboratories, including biosafety and biosecurity to ensure systems for the safe referral of clinical specimens for early detection and monitoring of outbreaks, transport in-country and international shipment, which key capacities required under the IHR
- The coordination, in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), of a reference network of European microbiology laboratories specialised in highly pathogenic or newly emerging pathogens to improve laboratory capacity