Q: What is the National Health Security Strategy?
A: The National Health Security Strategy (NHSS) (December, 2009) is the first comprehensive strategy focusing specifically on protecting people’s health in the case of a large-scale incident that puts health and well-being at risk. The NHSS defines and describes a vision of national health security. It contains two goals, ten Strategic Objectives, and operational capabilities necessary to achieve that vision. Progress toward national health security and a review of the NHSS’ impact will be conducted prior to the quadrennial revisions of the document. The NHSS complements and supports key national security documents and policies (e.g., National Security Strategy (May 2010); Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report: A Strategic Framework for a Secure Homeland (February 2010); Preparedness Policy Directive-8).
Q: What is national health security?
A: National health security is a state in which the Nation and its people are prepared for, protected from, and resilient in the face of health threats or incidents with potentially negative health consequences.
Q: What are the goals of the NHSS?
A: The goals of the NHSS are 1) build community resilience and, 2) strengthen and sustain health and emergency response systems. These overarching goals are supported by ten detailed Strategic Objectives such as develop and maintain the workforce needed for national health security; and, ensure timely and effective communication.
Q: How will the NHSS goals and vision be achieved?
A: Achieving national health security is a responsibility that must be broadly shared throughout society–by individuals, families, all sectors of communities, and governments. The NHSS Strategic Objectives provide a common framework, and subsequent implementation plans provide prioritized activities, to facilitate coordinated efforts to build and sustain the operational capabilities necessary for national health security. All individuals should be able to use them to guide everyday planning efforts. While certain implementation plan activities might be more relevant to particular agencies, sectors, communities, or disciplines, the NHSS’ philosophy applies to everyone. Ongoing measurement will be used to evaluate improvements in operational capabilities.
Q: How will the NHSS impact other policy and programs?
A: It is the definitive statement of ideals, philosophy, and priorities that influences and will be effected by national health security-related policies, programs, budgets and activities. The policies, programs, budgets and activities will be aligned to leverage resources and evidence-based activities and maximize progress toward achieving the [priority] Strategic Objectives of the current NHSS. Having been developed in coordination with governmental and non-governmental community partners, it is intended to be relevant for and used by the entire Nation.
Q: Why was the NHSS developed?
A: One common national vision is needed to achieve national health security; however, prior to the NHSS, one did not exist. The NHSS provides a common vision, a unified national approach, priorities, and opportunities for everyone to play a role in national health security. The Nation now should have less duplication of effort, more targeted use of resources and efforts to make marked progress in priority areas (rather than minimal progress in many areas), and a common language and framework to guide the national discussion among partners (for community resilience and strengthened systems).
Additionally, the document fulfilled a requirement of the 2006 Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (Public Law 109-417) ". . . every 4 years the Secretary of HHS [shall] submit to Congress a comprehensive national health security strategy. Similar to the Quadrennial Defense Review conducted by the Department of Defense, this section requires the Secretary of HHS to evaluate future challenges to national public health security and outline a strategy and plan for public health and medical preparedness and response…”
Q: Where might I find the NHSS? The NHSS can be found online at
www.phe.gov/nhss.
Q: Since no funding accompanies the NHSS, how will it make a difference in national health security among states? A: Achieving national health security requires coordinated resource strategies at all levels—including state governments. Leveraged investments of time, effort, and expertise–not just financial resources–is needed among individuals, families, and communities (including private-sector, non-governmental, and academic organizations), and the full range of local, State, territorial, tribal, and Federal governments.
Since such investments are beyond the scope of a single department, policy, or level of government, the NHSS and implementation documents emphasize coordinating and prioritizing resources across all communities and sectors.
Q: Are there unfunded mandates?
The NHSS does not create mandates for States or communities. Instead, the NHSS emphasizes working together as partners within communities and across sectors to leverage existing resources and strengthen health security.
Q: How do we know whether or not we are prepared, what progress are we making, and what gaps remain?
A: Achieving national health security will require commitment to accountability and continuous quality improvement. Initial priority implementation actions include the development of valid, reliable, and feasible performance measures.
Q: Were other federal departments and agencies involved in the development of the NHSS? What about non-federal partners?
A: The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) convened intra- and inter-departmental working groups to shape the NHSS. This was particularly important because national health security is dependent on a broad range of skillsets, disciplines and knowledge beyond health. Additionally, regional workshops were held to obtain community and non-federal partner input. Presentations and listening sessions were held at national meetings.
Q: How is the NHSS being implemented?
A: The NHSS is being implemented through activities identified the NHSS Implementation Plan. These activities were outlined initially in the Interim Implementation Guide (IIG) which was published concurrently with the NHSS. The implementation plan and its predecessor guide are based on extensive stakeholder input. Because the implementation plan is a national – not a federal – plan, local, state and federal agencies, private industry, academia and non-government organizations worked together in creating the plan and now included in the more detailed Implementation Plan (IP).
Q: What is the Implementation Plan?
A: The NHSS IP provides an implementation approach. It describes a set of desired outcomes and specific activities that are designed to put the Nation on a unified path toward realizing the goals and objectives contained in the NHSS. The primary focus of the IP is on specific activities that should be completed by the end of 2014.