Strengthening the Functionality of the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC)

During the COVID-19 pandemic response, Kosovo established a Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC) to improve emergency management. World Health Organisation, in collaboration with public health authorities, organized a workshop between November 1 and 4, 2022, to further strengthen the PHEOC. The workshop aims to strengthen the existing PHEOC's functionality by conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing capacities, gaps, and needs, as well as developing a PHEOC implementation plan in accordance with the WHO PHEOC Framework. The plan will also direct future processes aimed at improving the central PHEOC and establishing a functional network with Regional Public Health Institutes.

All governments are obliged to have Public Health Emergency Operational Centers, which is defined on the basis of IHR-2005 and the laws in force in Kosovo. Therefore, the WHO is supporting M of Health and Institute for Public Health to strengthen these operational centers which, even under normal conditions, will follow the events that may eventually progress to an emergency. WHO supports capacity building in the PHEOC to achieve such an objective.