Infokiri





ECDC Public Health Functions Unit

National Focal Points for Public Health Training (NFPT) meetings
5 March 2024
Minutes

Draft minutes
Welcome and objectives of the session
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
Adam presented the agenda and asked for AOB.
Paolo d’Ancona (NFPT, Italy) and Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) asked for clarification on the recent training on evidence based decision making considering
• it was sent to National Coordinators with NFPTs in cc
• the initial communication indicated the option for 3-4 participants per country to attend, while at the end for some countries none could take part
This topic was tackled as part of AOB.


13:00 – 13:05
Ways of working with the network in 2024
Jeanine Pommier, Group Leader Continuous Professional Development

Reminder on the role of NFPTs as stated in the Terms or Reference
Urszula Bogatynska, Training Support Specialist
Presentation (slides 6-9)
More information in the slides 10-22 (not presented during the meeting)
Presentation of survey results
Urszula Bogatynska, Training Support Specialist
Presentation (slides 23-27)
Update from TSF discussion on 15 February about ways of working
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
• NFPT and TSF once a year face-to-face around ESCAIDE and continue with TSF Meetings Q1 to Q3 online.
• Keep smaller/less topics, relevant to only the fellowship and allow more time for discussion and time to provide input.
Discussion linked with survey results (four break-out rooms)
Reporting back from group discussions
Group 3 and Group 4, Taking into consideration the results of the survey, propose:
• Frequency and format of NFPT meetings through the year
• Frequency and format of collaboration with TSF
• Ways of working with the public health training coordination committee

Group 3, Kristina Mittag Leffler, ECDC
• 2-4 NFPT meetings per year including one face to face with TSF
• Additional joint NFPT/TSF meetings based on needs – flexible approach
Moa Rehn (NFPT, Sweden) – Fellowship topics can be discussed together with TSF
Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) – separate roles are important give the difference in roles
Paolo de Nogueira (NFPT, Portugal) – raised the challenge in collaboration with two sites where the level of collaboration differs

Group 4, Aline Eklof, ECDC
• There should be joint meetings of NFPT and TSF
• Face to face meeting – at least once a year
• If we have 3 separate meetings for NFPT and 3 separate for TSF this results in many meetings for those with double roles
• Presentations and documents could be shared in advance
• Limited communication from the Coordination Committee. It would be useful to receive more information from their side and/or minutes from their meetings
Agnes Lepoutre (NFPT, France) – during face to face meetings there should be time allocated for each group separately
Hana Orlikova (NFPT, Czech Republic) – reminded that there is Annex 9 of the Coordinating-Competent-Bodies-Structures-Terms-of-reference-and-interactions_2023.pdf which describes the role of the Committee.

Group 1 and Group 2, Taking into consideration the results of the survey, propose a list of topics to be discussed in 2024 

Group 1, Patricia Garvey (NFPT, Ireland)
• Professional exchanges, senior exchanges, task force
• Competencies and methods of delivery
• Looking into competencies in all areas, enabling to go beyond the national level (regional)
• NFPT can be involved in design of trainings and its delivery
• New areas should be addressed in terms of trainings like: modelling, artificial intelligence

Group 2, Adam Roth, ECDC
• senior exchanges and mid-career trainings – requires training, and should be discussed
• capacity assessment methodology – linked to EUHTF
• mapping training needs
Challenges:
• Cascading of training
◦ Frontline FETP – hearing this from many countries
◦ EPIET Associated programme
• National level focus on ECDC training – how to get this out to regional level. Sharing of experiences
◦ Often handpicked. People we happen to know about. Not a fair approach. Other solutions?
• New mandate
◦ New demands on national institutes – do we have the trainings that correspond to the demands/expectations
Not for NFPT discussions
• Specific topics: dengue, arboviral
• Specific topics for seminars – not for NFPT
• Competencies – more for subject expertise

13:05 – 14:30

Break
14:30 – 14:45
Information item on Fellowship topics and Q&A

EU Health Task Force
Emma Löf, on behalf of the ECDC Coordination Team of the EU Health Task Force

Presentation (slides 36-50)
Discussion
• Emma explained that Fellows deployed will be representing ECDC.
• Ettore Amato (NFPT, Norway) asked about the criteria to create a request.
◦ Answer: These are available on slide 40. The scope can be both in the preparedness and response area
• Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) – if the country is in need of specific expertise, the deployment can be an answer to what is required
• Patricia Garvey (NFPT, Ireland) – under what circumstances would be the fellows be deployed through GOARN or through EUHTF
◦ Answer: GOARN request can go through ECDC
• Rodrigo Filipe (ECDC) – there is a strong tendency from NFPs for Preparedness to request preparedness support, also on capacity building, which in future can results in requests in these area

Selection of C2024 and requirements for MS Track
Aline Eklof, Fellowship Faculty Coordination Specialist
Presentation (slides 51-59)
Discussion
• Hana Orlikova (NFPT, Czech Republic) – when should the documents be submitted and who should submit?
◦ Answer: the process will be launched in April, Training Site representative will be informed with NFPT in copy
Other topics
Adam informed also about upcoming written consultation of the ECDC Fellowship roadmap and competencies (at the beginning of April)
14:45 – 15:15
AOB and Closure
AOB
Jeanine Pommier, Group Leader Continuous Professional Development
Presentation (slide 61)
• EVA catalogue 2024
• Summer School 2024 on ‘Introduction to mathematical modelling and strategic foresight for assessing and anticipating threats in public health’, 22-24 May, at ECDC, face to face. Invitation to nominate participants to be sent to NFPT in coming weeks.
• Recovery e-learning to be launched in coming weeks
• Clarification on the recent training on evidence-based decision making considering
◦ it was sent to National Coordinators with NFPTs in cc
◦ the initial communication indicated the option for 3-4 participants per country to attend, while at the end for some countries none could take part.
It has taken some effort for countries to select candidates as the interest was high. First come first serve approach was not appreciated as for some countries the selection may take longer time than for others.
Jeanine explained that general approach we are aiming is to reach out to NFPs (with National Coordinators) in cc:
• in case of transversal trainings (like Summer School or Winter Workshop) it would be the NFPT
• in the case if there is a specific ECDC network responsible for the topic covered by the training then it would be that specific NFP. NFPTs would be copied in this situation.

As for the information on the number of participants, it should be clear in the invitations itself.
Closure
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
Action point: proposal on working arrangements to be sent to the network
15:15 – 15:30










Annex I

Attendance

 
Country
Surname
Name
Role
1
Austria
Weber
Julia
NFPT alternate, PHT Coordination Committee
2
Austria
Lehner
Angela
 
3
Belgium
Rebolledo
Javiera
NFPT
4
Czech Republic
Spackova
Michaela
NFPT Alternate
5
Czech Republic
Orlíková
Hana
NFPT
6
Estonia
Kerbo
Natalia
NFPT Alternate
7
Finland
Siira
Lotta
NFPT alternate
8
France
Lepoutre
Agnès
NFPT
9
Germany
Gillesberg Raiser
Sofie
NFPT Alternate
10
Ireland
Garvey
Patricia
NFPT
11
Italy
D’Ancona
Paolo
NFPT, PHT Coordination Committee
12
Malta
Borg
Maria Louise
NFPT
13
Netherlands
te Wierik
Margreet
NFPT
14
Norway
Amato
Ettore
NFPT
15
Portugal
Da Silva Nogueira
Paulo
NFPT
16
Romania
Zaharia
Alina-Daniela
NFPT
17
Spain
Herrador Ortiz
Zaida
NFPT
18
Sweden
Rehn
Moa
NFPT
19
ECDC
Beer
Netta
ECDC
20
ECDC
Bogatynska
Urszula
ECDC
21
ECDC
Boncan
Adrian
ECDC
22
ECDC
Eklof
Aline
ECDC
23
ECDC
Filipe
Rodrigo
ECDC
24
ECDC
Freudenberg
Suzanne
ECDC
25
ECDC
Ismail-Clarke
Rosinah
ECDC
26
ECDC
Jung
Heidi
ECDC
27
ECDC
Lof
Emma
ECDC
28
ECDC
Mittag-Leffler
Kristina
ECDC
29
ECDC
Palmer
Katie
ECDC
30
ECDC
Plymoth
Amelie
ECDC
31
ECDC
Pommier
Jeanine
ECDC
32
ECDC
Roth
Adam
ECDC
33
ECDC
Troncoso-Campos
Adrian
ECDC





ECDC Public Health Functions Unit

National Focal Points for Public Health Training (NFPT) meetings
5 March 2024
Minutes

Draft minutes
Welcome and objectives of the session
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
Adam presented the agenda and asked for AOB.
Paolo d’Ancona (NFPT, Italy) and Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) asked for clarification on the recent training on evidence based decision making considering
• it was sent to National Coordinators with NFPTs in cc
• the initial communication indicated the option for 3-4 participants per country to attend, while at the end for some countries none could take part
This topic was tackled as part of AOB.


13:00 – 13:05
Ways of working with the network in 2024
Jeanine Pommier, Group Leader Continuous Professional Development

Reminder on the role of NFPTs as stated in the Terms or Reference
Urszula Bogatynska, Training Support Specialist
Presentation (slides 6-9)
More information in the slides 10-22 (not presented during the meeting)
Presentation of survey results
Urszula Bogatynska, Training Support Specialist
Presentation (slides 23-27)
Update from TSF discussion on 15 February about ways of working
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
• NFPT and TSF once a year face-to-face around ESCAIDE and continue with TSF Meetings Q1 to Q3 online.
• Keep smaller/less topics, relevant to only the fellowship and allow more time for discussion and time to provide input.
Discussion linked with survey results (four break-out rooms)
Reporting back from group discussions
Group 3 and Group 4, Taking into consideration the results of the survey, propose:
• Frequency and format of NFPT meetings through the year
• Frequency and format of collaboration with TSF
• Ways of working with the public health training coordination committee

Group 3, Kristina Mittag Leffler, ECDC
• 2-4 NFPT meetings per year including one face to face with TSF
• Additional joint NFPT/TSF meetings based on needs – flexible approach
Moa Rehn (NFPT, Sweden) – Fellowship topics can be discussed together with TSF
Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) – separate roles are important give the difference in roles
Paolo de Nogueira (NFPT, Portugal) – raised the challenge in collaboration with two sites where the level of collaboration differs

Group 4, Aline Eklof, ECDC
• There should be joint meetings of NFPT and TSF
• Face to face meeting – at least once a year
• If we have 3 separate meetings for NFPT and 3 separate for TSF this results in many meetings for those with double roles
• Presentations and documents could be shared in advance
• Limited communication from the Coordination Committee. It would be useful to receive more information from their side and/or minutes from their meetings
Agnes Lepoutre (NFPT, France) – during face to face meetings there should be time allocated for each group separately
Hana Orlikova (NFPT, Czech Republic) – reminded that there is Annex 9 of the Coordinating-Competent-Bodies-Structures-Terms-of-reference-and-interactions_2023.pdf which describes the role of the Committee.

Group 1 and Group 2, Taking into consideration the results of the survey, propose a list of topics to be discussed in 2024 

Group 1, Patricia Garvey (NFPT, Ireland)
• Professional exchanges, senior exchanges, task force
• Competencies and methods of delivery
• Looking into competencies in all areas, enabling to go beyond the national level (regional)
• NFPT can be involved in design of trainings and its delivery
• New areas should be addressed in terms of trainings like: modelling, artificial intelligence

Group 2, Adam Roth, ECDC
• senior exchanges and mid-career trainings – requires training, and should be discussed
• capacity assessment methodology – linked to EUHTF
• mapping training needs
Challenges:
• Cascading of training
◦ Frontline FETP – hearing this from many countries
◦ EPIET Associated programme
• National level focus on ECDC training – how to get this out to regional level. Sharing of experiences
◦ Often handpicked. People we happen to know about. Not a fair approach. Other solutions?
• New mandate
◦ New demands on national institutes – do we have the trainings that correspond to the demands/expectations
Not for NFPT discussions
• Specific topics: dengue, arboviral
• Specific topics for seminars – not for NFPT
• Competencies – more for subject expertise

13:05 – 14:30

Break
14:30 – 14:45
Information item on Fellowship topics and Q&A

EU Health Task Force
Emma Löf, on behalf of the ECDC Coordination Team of the EU Health Task Force

Presentation (slides 36-50)
Discussion
• Emma explained that Fellows deployed will be representing ECDC.
• Ettore Amato (NFPT, Norway) asked about the criteria to create a request.
◦ Answer: These are available on slide 40. The scope can be both in the preparedness and response area
• Margret te Wierik (NFPT, Netherlands) – if the country is in need of specific expertise, the deployment can be an answer to what is required
• Patricia Garvey (NFPT, Ireland) – under what circumstances would be the fellows be deployed through GOARN or through EUHTF
◦ Answer: GOARN request can go through ECDC
• Rodrigo Filipe (ECDC) – there is a strong tendency from NFPs for Preparedness to request preparedness support, also on capacity building, which in future can results in requests in these area

Selection of C2024 and requirements for MS Track
Aline Eklof, Fellowship Faculty Coordination Specialist
Presentation (slides 51-59)
Discussion
• Hana Orlikova (NFPT, Czech Republic) – when should the documents be submitted and who should submit?
◦ Answer: the process will be launched in April, Training Site representative will be informed with NFPT in copy
Other topics
Adam informed also about upcoming written consultation of the ECDC Fellowship roadmap and competencies (at the beginning of April)
14:45 – 15:15
AOB and Closure
AOB
Jeanine Pommier, Group Leader Continuous Professional Development
Presentation (slide 61)
• EVA catalogue 2024
• Summer School 2024 on ‘Introduction to mathematical modelling and strategic foresight for assessing and anticipating threats in public health’, 22-24 May, at ECDC, face to face. Invitation to nominate participants to be sent to NFPT in coming weeks.
• Recovery e-learning to be launched in coming weeks
• Clarification on the recent training on evidence-based decision making considering
◦ it was sent to National Coordinators with NFPTs in cc
◦ the initial communication indicated the option for 3-4 participants per country to attend, while at the end for some countries none could take part.
It has taken some effort for countries to select candidates as the interest was high. First come first serve approach was not appreciated as for some countries the selection may take longer time than for others.
Jeanine explained that general approach we are aiming is to reach out to NFPs (with National Coordinators) in cc:
• in case of transversal trainings (like Summer School or Winter Workshop) it would be the NFPT
• in the case if there is a specific ECDC network responsible for the topic covered by the training then it would be that specific NFP. NFPTs would be copied in this situation.

As for the information on the number of participants, it should be clear in the invitations itself.
Closure
Adam Roth, Head of Section Public Health Training
Action point: proposal on working arrangements to be sent to the network
15:15 – 15:30










Annex I

Attendance

 
Country
Surname
Name
Role
1
Austria
Weber
Julia
NFPT alternate, PHT Coordination Committee
2
Austria
Lehner
Angela
 
3
Belgium
Rebolledo
Javiera
NFPT
4
Czech Republic
Spackova
Michaela
NFPT Alternate
5
Czech Republic
Orlíková
Hana
NFPT
6
Estonia
Kerbo
Natalia
NFPT Alternate
7
Finland
Siira
Lotta
NFPT alternate
8
France
Lepoutre
Agnès
NFPT
9
Germany
Gillesberg Raiser
Sofie
NFPT Alternate
10
Ireland
Garvey
Patricia
NFPT
11
Italy
D’Ancona
Paolo
NFPT, PHT Coordination Committee
12
Malta
Borg
Maria Louise
NFPT
13
Netherlands
te Wierik
Margreet
NFPT
14
Norway
Amato
Ettore
NFPT
15
Portugal
Da Silva Nogueira
Paulo
NFPT
16
Romania
Zaharia
Alina-Daniela
NFPT
17
Spain
Herrador Ortiz
Zaida
NFPT
18
Sweden
Rehn
Moa
NFPT
19
ECDC
Beer
Netta
ECDC
20
ECDC
Bogatynska
Urszula
ECDC
21
ECDC
Boncan
Adrian
ECDC
22
ECDC
Eklof
Aline
ECDC
23
ECDC
Filipe
Rodrigo
ECDC
24
ECDC
Freudenberg
Suzanne
ECDC
25
ECDC
Ismail-Clarke
Rosinah
ECDC
26
ECDC
Jung
Heidi
ECDC
27
ECDC
Lof
Emma
ECDC
28
ECDC
Mittag-Leffler
Kristina
ECDC
29
ECDC
Palmer
Katie
ECDC
30
ECDC
Plymoth
Amelie
ECDC
31
ECDC
Pommier
Jeanine
ECDC
32
ECDC
Roth
Adam
ECDC
33
ECDC
Troncoso-Campos
Adrian
ECDC