The Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC) is a core component of the much broader Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Network (EOC-NET). A public health emergency operations center (EOC) can describe a physical or digital environment used to coordinate emergency response efforts. The EOC-NET is a broad international initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) that encourages member nations to be prepared for a coordinated response to an emerging public health crisis. Global epidemics or severe natural disasters are just a couple of the scenarios considered by the network.
About the EOC Network
The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) provides the foundation for an international readiness network by requesting member states to increase their capacity to deal with public health emergencies. The WHO established the EOC-NET in 2012 to support national efforts to this end. The network has expanded substantially since its founding and now includes dozens of different operations centers around the globe. Individuals and institutions, including operation centers, can apply for membership on the organization’s official website.
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Role of SHOC in the Network
The SHOC lies at the heart of the branching EOC network, facilitating communication and coordination between various groups. It is a flexible platform of operations that uses modern technology and coordinated response to help member countries address public health risks, according to the World Health Organization. SHOC personnel is also tasked with seeking out information and other resources that could help combat serious threats to public health.
Key Functions
The key functions of SHOC can be broken down into three main groups: monitoring, evaluation, and advisement. Identifying an emerging crisis quickly is critical to overcoming it, which is why the central operations office prioritizes real-time data collection from around the world. SHOC evaluates collected data with statistical analysis and risk assessment methodology to prioritize threats according to their potential impact and likelihood of occurring. The organization also fills an advisory role as they educate various national governments about their findings and guide them towards adequate solutions.
Regional SHOC Offices
While the main SHOC team works with professionals at the WHO central offices, there are also smaller centers that focus on regional issues. For example, the WHO Regional Office for Africa Strategic Health Operations Centre (AFRO-SHOC) helps develop solutions that are tailored to specific issues in local countries. These regional organizations may oversee or interact with dozens of smaller groups that have specific interests in certain geographic areas or public health issues. Developing strong coordination between local, regional and international groups is one of SHOC’s essential responsibilities.
While many governments have their own center for disease control and emergency readiness, pathogens and disasters rarely respect national borders. Daily international travel and commerce expose the global population to health risks, which requires international oversight and coordination to properly address. The Strategic Health Operations Centre may be a relatively new creation, but it has already established itself as a core part of an international network that works with thousands of agencies, individuals, and governments to find better solutions to potential public health disasters.
