About participation of IAC experts in CAPSCA–EUR/7

From 10 to 12 April 2019 (Helsinki, Finland) experts of the Interstate Aviation Committee took part in the Seventh European Meeting of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA–EUR/7) held by European and North Atlantic Office and World Health Organization with participation of representatives from ministries and departments of health system, aviation authorities of more than 30 states in Europe, Member States of the Agreement and other international organizations of CAPSCA programme participants.

Conclusions and prospects of collaboration in the field of health care and ensuring sanitary and epidemiological welfare of population of the ICAO European and North Atlantic region states were discussed at the meeting. The issues of intersectoral coordination on prevention of emergencies in the field of healt care in civil aviation, legislation, decision-making tools, means and methods of disinsection / disinsection of air transport were considered. 

The participants emphasized that emergencies and new threats in the field of public health care can have an adverse effect on aviation industry work. Awareness, readiness / state of training and coordinated interactions among stakeholders are essential for ensuring the continuous activity in civil aviation, as well as for warning and prevention of  threats to public health. 

One of the major issues were coordination of emergency preparedness programmes and plans in the field of public health care at global, regional, national and operational levels, the need to conduct training activities with the involvement of observers from other states and organizations, development of standardized training of technical adviser   In order to coordinate and implement CAPSCA Programme the election of a group of coordinators (officers) which included IAC representative were held in the member states of the ICAO European and North Atlantic region.

IAC representatives exchanged best practices of coordination with aviation and public health authorities on the issues addressed by the Forum and information about IAC activity which is the international partner of the ICAO according to CAPSCA–EUR Programme.

At the meeting it was identified that adherence by new states to CAPSCA Programme implementation would be highly beneficial. The IAC is ready to develop initiatives aimed at expanding the number of participants and activities od states in the Programme. 

The proceedings of the Meeting and CAPSCA-EUR / 07 presentations are available at the ICAO EUR / NAT Office web-site, CAPSCA-EUR07.