WHO Issues New Guidance for Health Emergency Drills

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidance for health emergency drills. This guidance enables countries to move beyond one-off drills and establish systematic programs to test and strengthen preparedness for health emergencies. The WHO guidance emphasizes the importance of simulation exercises in identifying gaps in coordination, communication, and logistics. Ukraine has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach, conducting a series of simulation exercises to test its emergency response capabilities. These exercises have helped Ukraine identify operational gaps and improve its response to radiological emergencies. The WHO guidance provides a framework for countries to establish National Health Simulation Exercise Programmes, transforming preparedness into a core pillar of national resilience. By institutionalizing simulation exercises, countries can improve their response to health emergencies and save lives.