Inputs sought from institutions to prepare emergency plan
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Health Ejaz Rahim has directed all health institutions including National Institute of Health and federal government hospitals to send their inputs within two weeks to prepare health emergency preparedness plan. He advised that a PC-I for developing such plan must take into account the requirements and gaps besides considering inputs to be submitted in the light of deliberations. These inputs will be critically evaluated by a committee constituted under Director General Health. A meeting was held in this regard under the chairmanship of Minister for Health to assess the proposals under consideration for Health Emergency Preparedness Plan.
Dr Ejaz of Health Services Academy (HSA) made a presentation on behalf of academy, which was assigned the task of identifying salient features of the plan. Extensive discussions took place in the meeting, and importantguidelines were formulated for finalising the plan. It was decided that the Ministry of Health will acquire a catalytic role to ensure that District Health Plans are developed by District Governments based on clear guidelines. The meeting decided that these plans must take into account risk mapping as well as available resource mapping, together with gaps that need to be filled.
The Ministry of Health will also require each major hospital to develop a Hospital Emergency Preparedness Plan for which the training course initiated at HSA to be treated as a useful basis.
Similarly, key personnel and medical teams will be trained to cope with emergency situations.
These inputs will be critically evaluated by a committee under DG Health. The Minister stressed that a practical orientation was essential. At the same time, the coordination process was necessary to be ensured in developing an effective plan. The Minister advised that a PC-I for developing a Health Emergency Preparedness must take into account the requirements and gaps emerging from the discussions and the inputs to be submitted in the light of the meeting’s deliberations.