The European Patients' Forum contributes to the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority’s (HERA) review

The European Patients’ Forum (EPF) is an independent non-profit, non-governmental umbrella organisation of patient organisations across Europe and disease areas. Our 79 members include disease-specific patient groups active at the EU level and national coalitions of patients.

EPF welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this consultation on HERA's mission, mandate, tasks, structure and resources.

Chronic disease patients are particularly vulnerable to public health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for better coordination among member states to ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures, well-established information exchange channels, and improved communication to the public.

It further highlighted shared challenges among countries including shortages of critical medicines and health workforce as well as ill-equipped, under-resourced
healthcare systems. We believe that HERA’s role and mandate could be further strengthened by adopting a comprehensive approach to pandemic preparedness which includes continuity of care, supports member states’ actions to improve access to critical medicines, and improved coordination at the global level.

As HERA’s mandate develops, we call on the EU and member states to ensure that HERA has sufficient resources to fulfil its mission. We further encourage HERA to continue liaising with the Civil Society Forum, of which EPF is part, and closely involve civil society in its activities.

Read more here.