Functions, Goals, and Objectives

Goal 1: Identify needs to protect Americans against current and emerging threats

The PHEMCE will utilize threat information to address critical needs by developing threat assessments that are shared among PHEMCE members and partners.

• Objective 1.1: Conduct regular threat horizon scans to better prepare for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats (CBRN) and emerging infectious disease (EID) threats, as well as novel and emerging public health threats, and integrate the full range of solutions (including non-pharmaceutical interventions) into medical countermeasure preparedness and response plans.
• Objective 1.2: Integrate threat characterization and risk analysis information into medical countermeasure portfolio considerations including an assessment of tradeoffs and future development pathways.
  
• Objective 1.3: Develop portfolio optimization strategies that include an evaluation of development challenges and opportunities as well as end user needs.
• Objective 1.4: Implement all the above into a capabilities-based requirements process and utilization framework.

Goal 2, Develop strategies and coordinate with PHEMCE members and partners to address identified gaps and assess opportunities for continuous improvement

The PHEMCE will contemplate medical countermeasure logistics, deployment, distribution, dispensing, and utilization factors and develop strategies to address identified gaps.

• Objective 2.1: Engage with established advisory committees; senior leader councils; state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities; and non-governmental organizations, both domestic and international, to identify the challenges within the medical countermeasure enterprise.
• Objective 2.2: Establish a plan for rapid identification of medical countermeasure gaps that prioritizes and coordinates expediting advanced R&D to close those gaps during emerging pandemics, and rapidly assess safety and efficacy of novel medical countermeasures.
• Objective 2.3: Outline short-, medium-, and long-term R&D priorities for the end-to-end medical countermeasure development cycle and adjust based on the strategic environment and threat assessment.
• Objective 2.4: Establish feedback mechanisms with PHEMCE partners to ensure two-way communication on addressing gaps and shortfalls.

Goal 3, Provide recommendations to the HHS Secretary and communicate medical countermeasure needs to all stakeholders based on the best available evidence combined with situational awareness and field deployment realities

The PHEMCE will ensure the U.S. government has the right medical countermeasures available, at the right time, and for the right population.

• Objective 3.1: Outline recommendations and progress made in a comprehensive portfolio that meets declared medical countermeasure priorities, including medical countermeasures that address the needs of at-risk populations and pediatric needs, to project Strategic National Stockpile stockpiling and replenishment.
• Objective 3.2: Evaluate progress of all development activities: R&D, procurement, stockpiling, deployment, distribution, and utilization; using an evaluation system based on performance management best practices--including progress made in meeting timelines, allocations, benchmarks, and milestones.
• Objective 3.3: Communicate medical countermeasure prioritization needs with stakeholders including the public, the private sector, legislators, and the HHS Secretary.
• Objective 3.4: Regularly assess and communicate priorities in a transparent and deliberative fashion.