Advancing national civil-military collaboration to strengthen health emergency preparedness

Overview: This course describes the role effective civil-military health collaboration has in fortifying health emergency preparedness and health security.

In May 2018, the Seventy-first World Health Assembly endorsed the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13), which focused on improving public health preparedness and response. In November 2020, World Health Assembly resolution WHA73.8 emphasized the need for an all-hazards, multisectoral, coordinated approach to health emergencies. This approach, including military sector involvement, was reiterated in the 2021 WHA resolution 74.7.

The WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), 2025–2028, overarching vision is to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all people, everywhere. It further emphasizes the need for robust multisectoral collaboration, mobilization and coordination of expert technical networks, and continuous innovation. The International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) require the 196 signatory countries to detect, assess, report, and respond to potential public health emergencies of international concern promptly. Improving collaboration between public health and military health services has been identified by WHO as a key area for enhancing health emergency preparedness.

Effective emergency response benefits from collaboration between the public health sector and non-traditional stakeholders, such as military health services, before emergencies arise. Instead of engaging support only during emergencies, effective management requires coordinated preparedness and health security measures. WHO advises involving military actors in health interventions, from prevention and preparedness to response and recovery. The course highlights the key elements for effective civil-military health collaboration for the development of national core capacity to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from health emergencies.

Course duration: Approximately 1 hour

Certificates: A Certificate of Achievement will be available to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available on the quiz. Participants who receive a Certificate of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.

Acknowledgments: This e-learning course is developed by the Multisectoral Engagement for Health Security (MHS) Unit of the Health Security Preparedness (HSP) Department of the World Health Organization (WHO).

For more information, please contact:

• Mr Ludy Suryantoro, Head of Multisectoral Engagement for Health Security Unit, suryantorol@who.int
  
• Ms Romina Stelter, Technical Officer, stelterr@who.int
• Ms Helen Versland, Technical Officer, verslandh@who.int