GENEVA, Switzerland – In a groundbreaking event, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently brought together over 15 countries and more than 20 regional health agencies to launch a new global coordination mechanism for health emergencies during a two-day simulation exercise known as Exercise Polaris.
This innovative exercise tested WHO’s Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), crafted to bolster countries’ emergency response capacities, streamline deployment of surge teams, and promote international collaboration in health crises.
Exercise Polaris simulated an outbreak of a fictitious virus, enabling countries to navigate real-life conditions while enhancing their preparedness strategies.
Countries participating in the exercise included Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Uganda, and Ukraine, with additional countries observing. Each nation engaged through its national health emergency coordination framework, collaborating to share information, align policies, and activate necessary responses.
Global health agencies, including regional organizations and established emergency networks, collectively supported the country-led responses. Over 350 health emergency experts participated, emphasizing the importance of global health preparedness.
“This exercise demonstrates the power of collective leadership and collaboration in preparing for health emergencies,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “No nation can combat a pandemic in isolation. Exercise Polaris reinforces the necessity of global cooperation.”
Throughout the simulation, nations led their response efforts while consulting with WHO for coordination and technical assistance. The exercise provided a vital platform for governments to evaluate their preparedness in a realistic environment, highlighting the need for trust and mutual accountability alongside prompt action.
“We aimed to practice inter-agency response procedures to international health threats,” said Dr. Mariela Marín, Vice Minister of Health of Costa Rica, acknowledging the support received from regional health organizations and the engagement from their National Risk Management System.
“Polaris emphasized the necessity of building trust before crises occur,” stated Dr. Soha Albayat from Qatar. “Our collaborative framework is now stronger than ever, allowing us to proactively anticipate and coordinate emergency response plans across borders.”
“The Global Health Emergency Corps has become a vital platform rooted in practice and collaboration,” noted Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. “Exercise Polaris illustrated the potential for urgent and unified action among nations, signaling our enhanced readiness for future challenges.”
Amid rising challenges to multilateralism, Exercise Polaris reaffirmed that health remains a quintessential global issue that transcends national boundaries.
