Recently, the WHO published its updated WHO Benchmarks for Strengthening Health Emergency Capacities, which support implementing International Health Regulations and health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience capacities.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent health emergencies highlighted the need to strengthen national and global preparedness. The benchmarks have been updated through an extensive consultative process to incorporate lessons learned as well as to reflect alignment with current International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) monitoring and evaluation framework tools, the health systems for health security framework, disaster risk management, and support strengthening health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) capacities to be better prepared and resilient for future health emergencies.
The document is heavy (400 pages). Therefore, to ensure its application, they have been updating the Benchmark Portal with this edition of the WHO Benchmark. Countries can quickly develop draft national plans and navigate benchmarks as per their need using the portal. The portal has a reference library with downloadable documents that guide implementing actions in technical areas. To maintain the library, please share the publication that links to the benchmarks and their actions with the Evidence and Analytics for Health Security (EHS) Unit. (ehs@who.int).