Towards health security

Overview

This discussion paper examines recent threats to health security in the WHO European Region from communicable diseases, natural disasters, large-scale accidents, conflicts and complex emergencies and the potential future challenges from climate change. It reviews the lessons learned from past experience, the new framework offered by the revised International Health Regulations (2005), the need for strengthening health systems to manage crises and the importance of international partnerships for health security.

This publication builds on the health security debate initiated at the fifty-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2006. It aims to stimulate further consultations with Member States on how to support them in strengthening their preparedness measures against health security threats and in ensuring that their health systems respond effectively and comprehensively. The publication provides an overview of selected threats and regional challenges to health security based on what is most commonly included in the concept of health security in the current debate. Special consideration is given to threats resulting from or augmented by the ways in which countries and their populations interact internationally.