The EU’s new European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was officially inaugurated in May 2005. Although the main bodies are now in place, the ECDC is not expected to address its full mandate before 2007.
Besides, in 2007, the European Commission (EC), the European Parliament (EP) and the Council of Ministers will review its mandate, which may cover non-communicable disease (such as for instance, cardiovascular disease and cancer).
What is the ECDC’s role?
According to the founding regulation EC 851/2004, establishing the ECDC (article 3), the ECDC’s mission is to identify, assess and communicate current and emerging threats to human health from communicable diseases.
The ECDC will fulfill its objectives by:
collecting, evaluating and disseminating relevant scientific data and information;
providing scientific opinions and technical assistance;
coordinating the European networks, including dedicated surveillance networks;
exchanging information, best practice and expertise;
and facilitating the development and implementation of joint actions.
ECDC work programme for 2005-2006
Given the current constraints, the ECDC Management board decided to prioritise four health areas in its 2005-2006 work programme:
Influenza pandemic preparedness;
Antimicrobial resistance;
Zoonoses;
HIV and STI (Sexually Transmitted Illnesses)
For each one, the ECDC will liaise with relevant networks, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Commission and member states; provide advice, technical assistance and support other initiatives.
In December 2005, the ECDC Management Board approved the Centre’s work plan for 2006 with a provisional budget of €17.2 million. The central priorities of the work plan 2006 are:
build-up of the Centre’s core functions in disease surveillance, scientific advice, preparedness and training
tuberculosis
priority diseases the Centre started work on in 2005: influenza, HIV/AIDS, drug resistant microbes
The ECDC will also gradually take over the following missions:
| Missions | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Networking, surveillance and data collection | evaluating existing surveillance networks; gradually taking over the coordination of surveillance activities, developing a database of information |
| Collection, analysis and dissemination of data | setting up systems for data collection and analysis, disseminating a weekly and annual epidemiological report, establishing a rapid information exchange mechanism |
| Early-warning and response system | Link up to the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS), set up a 24h/7 day permanent on-duty system, gathering information on outbreaks, assisting member states in developing and maintaining a capacity to react rapidly |
| Indication of emerging health threats | agreements for cooperation with the WHO, the Commission and member states, creating capacity to deal with surveillance activities (investigation assistance and infection control expertise) |
| Scientific studies | adoption of terms of reference to constitute ad hoc scientific panels, identification of scientific experts |
| Technical Assistance and training | Implement and follow-up the exisiting training course under the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology (EPIET), start supporting and coordinating training courses |
| Internal functions | human resources, finance, information technology, infrascture and facilities |
Based in Sweden, the ECDC has no laboratory capacity of its own, unlike its American counterpart (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC). Therefore, one of its core activities will be to pull together Europe’s experts, support member states response capacity, and build up a system of reference labs.
How is the ECDC organised?
The ECDC, directed by Mrs Zsuzsanna Jakab, is governed by a Management Board, composed by one member from each member state, two members designated by the EP and three members by the EC. The Management Board meets between two and fourt times a year and is responsible for approving its annual work programme and defining the long term strategy.
An Advisory Forum has been set up to exchange information and knowledge on health threats and oversees the quality of the ECDC scientific work. It is composed by a representative of each member states and three members without the right to vote appointed by the EC and representing the civil society.
The ECDC will be organised in four different units: scientific advice; surveillance and communication; preparedness and response; management and administration.
The ECDC budget for 2005 is 4.8 million Euros, rising to 15.3 million Euros in 2006 and it should reach 90 million in 2010. Given the very tight budget, the ECDC staff capacity is limited: by the end of the year, the core staff will be of 30 people and rising in the coming years to a potential 300 people in 2013.
