A Global Agenda for 2025–2028: Promoting, Delivering, and Protecting Health «Part Ten»

To facilitate these efforts, increased attention and resources will be devoted to empowering and coordinating “networks of networks” that require sustained support. These include research and development networks (including clinical trials), geographically diversified and scalable manufacturing of medical countermeasures, strategic stockpiling and resilient supply chains, as well as cross-border digital infrastructure for issuing verifiable health certificates.

Shared Outcome 5.3: Rapid detection and sustained effective response to emergencies

This strategic objective responds to the increasing frequency and severity of health emergencies worldwide, driven by climate change, environmental degradation and pollution, urbanization, political instability, and conflict, against the backdrop of weak health systems further strained by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, an unprecedented 340 million people required life-saving humanitarian assistance, and this figure continues to rise due to the unprecedented number of health emergencies globally.

This objective aims to reduce the health impacts of acute crises and ensure equitable and sustained access to essential health and nutrition services throughout all emergencies, working in collaboration with humanitarian partners and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

It also responds to the urgent need for strengthened capacities to deliver life-saving resources and care, particularly in the context of protracted crises, as demonstrated by the growing burden these crises place on national health systems and limited resources.

Emphasis is placed on strengthening interconnected surveillance networks that are essential for early warning and timely response to acute public health threats. This includes continuous monitoring of national and global health data, rapid alert issuance, verification of potential threats, and comprehensive risk assessments.

The World Health Organization plays a central role in this function and, through its commitment to transparency and communication, ensures that Member States and the global community receive timely information to guide local action and strengthen coordinated international responses.

This objective draws on experience and knowledge gained from recent crises to promote and apply the core components of health emergency response: joint surveillance, community protection, scalable care, access to medical countermeasures, and effective coordination.

Shared Outcome 6.1: Acute public health threats are detected and responded to rapidly and effectively

Ongoing efforts to strengthen national and international early warning and alert systems will continue in order to advance the rapid detection and assessment of public health threats.

This includes national capacity-building and support for the rapid identification and verification of threats, in-depth risk assessments, and the grading of public health risks and emergencies.

In parallel, WHO will continue to strengthen its core international functions in this area to provide countries and partners with real-time information and enable rapid and accurate scaling of responses.

Emergency response coordination will be rapidly activated and managed through emergency operations centres, supported by standard operating procedures, technical guidance, and planning, while ensuring that interventions are culturally appropriate and tailored to national contexts.

International coordination and collaboration will be facilitated through incident management systems that can link emergency operations centres at national, regional, and global levels, supported by comprehensive guidance and strategic coordination.

Multidisciplinary rapid response teams will be further developed to deploy critical expertise quickly in epidemiology, clinical care, logistics, and other relevant skills to contain threats and mitigate the impacts of outbreaks and other health emergencies.

Support will be provided for the equitable allocation of medical countermeasures, and emergency funding will be released immediately to facilitate rapid and fair emergency response operations.

The integrated, collaborative approach to supporting Member States will be further strengthened to ensure the most effective management of health emergencies and the rapid delivery of technical and operational support when needed.

Shared Outcome 6.2: Access to essential health services is maintained and equitable during crises

Life-saving care interventions will be immediately implemented in all health emergencies, building on existing cooperation agreements…