A decision framework for effective, equitable and context-specific public health and social measures during public health emergencies: decision navigator

Overview

In times of public health crises, leaders and decision-makers face immense pressure to act quickly and effectively. Their choices regarding public health and social measures (PHSM) must not only protect communities but also minimize disruptions to daily life and the economy. Their decisions on selecting and adjusting PHSM during public health emergencies require careful consideration of a complex array of factors, including the epidemiological situation, health system capacity, availability of medical countermeasures, along with resource availability, political and legal feasibility and public acceptance of the PHSM being considered. WHO has developed the PHSM Decision Navigator to provide a clear, systematic, and equitable framework for making these critical decisions.

The Navigator is a threat-agnostic decision framework that outlines a step-by-step decision pathway to guide national and subnational governments in systematically considering multiple complex factors to define a PHSM implementation package – a combination of PHSM paired with corresponding mitigation measures, which are social protection policies and community-based initiatives crucial for reducing unintended negative consequences of PHSM implementation. This package is essential for safeguarding both lives and livelihoods, ensuring business and education continuity and bolstering community resilience during public health emergencies.