The Health-Security Interface Technical Advisory Group (HSI-TAG) was first established in 2019. Reflecting the evolving and emerging needs of the Organization, the terms of reference of HSI-TAG were revised and updated in March 2022. New members were appointed in later 2022 according to WHO rules and regulations. Please see here for the call for experts, and here for the public announcement of the 2022 HSI-TAG members.
The Biosafety and Health Security Protection (BSP) Unit in the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (EPP) Department provides Secretariat function to the HSI-TAG and works closely on issues including the establishment of a WHO mechanism for responding to potential deliberate biological threats; developing technical materials to support Member States aimed at improving preparedness/readiness for chemical and biological deliberate events as well as emerging threats, e.g. dual use research of concern, cyber threats or disinformation; building Member States’ capacity through the Joint External Evaluation Process aimed at biosecurity and prepare for/respond to deliberate events; improving specific and ad hoc Public Health Intelligence as a tool for timely detecting and strengthening response and mitigation measures to deliberate events; and participating in simulation exercises (SimEx) that improve the response of WHO and Member States to deliberate events.
Contact
Biosecurity and Health Security Protection (BSP) Unit
World Health Organization
Avenue Appia 20
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Email: BSP@who.int