The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced new guidance urging countries to improve how they prepare for health emergencies, with a stronger focus on regular simulation exercises and long-term planning rather than one-time drills.
As global risks such as pandemics, climate-related disasters, and chemical incidents continue to grow, WHO says countries need more reliable systems to respond quickly and effectively. The new guidance highlights the importance of global health preparedness, ensuring that health systems are ready to handle a wide range of crises.
At the core of the framework is the concept of National Health Simulation Exercise Programmes (NHSEP). These are government-led efforts designed to regularly test how well emergency response systems work in real-life scenarios. Instead of treating simulations as isolated exercises, the programme encourages countries to make them a routine part of their planning.
These simulations help identify weaknesses in coordination, communication, logistics, and public health response capacity. More importantly, they ensure that lessons learned are turned into real improvements in policies and systems, helping countries stay better prepared over time.
WHO also stresses that these exercises should be aligned with each country’s specific risks and health priorities. This makes the approach more practical and relevant, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model for health crisis management.
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Ukraine has been highlighted as a strong example of how such programmes can work. Despite facing difficult conditions, the country successfully conducted simulation exercises, including one focused on a possible nuclear emergency. These exercises helped authorities spot gaps and improve their response strategies.
In addition, WHO has launched a global initiative called HorizonX global simulation initiative, which aims to strengthen preparedness through more advanced and coordinated simulations across countries and sectors. The programme follows a “One Health” approach, recognizing the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.
Overall, the new guidance marks a shift toward building stronger, more resilient health systems. By making preparedness an ongoing process, WHO believes countries will be better equipped to respond quickly and effectively when emergencies arise, strengthening overall global health security.
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