HERA’s first three years of activity

Three years have passed since the creation of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), one of the first initiatives born in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The results obtained so far by HERA are summarised in a report published by the European Commission at the end of March 2025.

The Authority plays a central role in coordinating activities to improve preparedness and response capacities at the EU-level, including issues with the supply chains of critical medicines shortages. According to the report, the availability of a structure dedicated to medical countermeasures for pandemic preparedness and response helps to improve policy coherence and provides a clear EU added value in the area of health security, e.g. for joint procurement and stockpiling of medical countermeasures.

Recommended areas for future improvement of HERA’s activities should include synergies between HERA and other European institutions (e.g. ECDC, EMA, the Health Security Committee and the Advisory Committee on Public Health Emergencies), as well as an enhanced coordination and cooperation with Member States. Flexibility, optimisation of funding and effective communication of HERA’s activities are other key recommendations for the future.