The Joint Action Preparedness and action at points of entry (ports, airports, and ground crossings) with acronym HEALTHY GATEWAYS was prepared under the framework of the 2017 Annual Work Programme and has received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Third Health Programme (2014-2020). A total of 38 authorities (17 partners, 3 affiliated entities, 18 collaborating stakeholders) from 28 European countries and Taiwan CDC participate in the HEALTHY GATEWAYS Joint Action consortium.
The Joint Action was launched on 1st May 2018 (Grant Agreement Number: 801493) and has a duration of 36 months.
The EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS Joint Action aims to support cooperation and coordinated action of Member States to improve their preparedness and response capacities at points of entry. This includes ports, airports and ground crossings, in preventing and combating cross-border health threats from the transport sector.
The Joint Action will produce guidelines, catalogues of best practices and validated action plans to be implemented by Member State health authorities at operational level in the field of transport, covering all types of health threats, risk communication, advice for public health event management and contingency planning.
The action will also support rapid exchange of information in the event of cross-border health risks, using electronic means via established communication networks for points of entry.
Online and face-to-face training on contingency planning and management of events (due to infections, vectors, chemical, environmental, and other agents) at points of entry will be provided at the European, national and local level, while the Joint Action will also support the execution of hygiene inspections on ships and airplanes.
In the event of future public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC), the Joint Action will move from its inter-epidemic mode to an emergency mode, in order to support the coherent response of Member States according to Decision No 1082/2013/EU and implementation of temporary recommendations issued by the WHO according to International Health Regulations.
The Joint Action is expected to improve coordinated cross-sectoral actions to control infectious disease transmission and possible vectors for pathogens on ground transportation, on ships, and in aircrafts, in case of a serious cross-border threat to health affecting or inherently coming from the transport sector.