RKI and WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence review joint workplan

On 10 April 2024, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) hosted the second Steering Committee meeting of the ongoing partnership with the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin. Solidified by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2021, the partnership pursues a 2022–2024 workplan. The meeting included notable participants such as WHO's Sara Hersey, an observer from the German Federal Ministry of Health, and RKI’s acting Vice-President Johanna Hanefeld.

Meeting of the Steering Committee between RKI and WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence on 10 April 2024. Photo: RKI

The primary objective of this meeting was to review and discuss the progress across the four projects under the partnership:

1. Strengthen Integrated Genomic Surveillance through Greater Capacities in National Public Health Institutes
2. Collaboration on Public Health Intelligence Capacity Building and Innovation within the EIOS Initiative
3. Collaboration on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
4. GOARN Berlin Fellowship Programme

Significant advancements in the implementation of these projects were highlighted, marking a shift from the foundational efforts in personnel and management structures in previous years to a new focus on scaling operations, enhancing implementation, and assessing impacts. Discussions also covered other collaborative projects not directly under the workplan but integral to the RKI-WHO partnership in Berlin, such as the ‘Health Security Partnership to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Africa’.

The German Federal Ministry of Health has reiterated its support and commitment to this long-term partnership. The WHO Hub's strategic aim is to bolster National Public Health Agencies, which are seen as crucial counterparts in identifying global priorities for pandemic preparedness and collaborative intelligence.

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