Health service continuity planning for public health emergencies

Overview

In view of the current paucity of guidance on health service continuity planning at facility level; this handbook is developed with the aim of supporting health care facilities to minimize disruption and ultimately increase the resilience of health services during public health emergencies. It provides step by step guidance for developing service continuity plans in public health emergency context by outlining the procedures and key elements to be considered for planning including a planning template.

By its very nature, the utility of this handbook is not specific to a particular emergency response and underpins a preparedness and proactive approach towards various public health emergency risks for which the health services should be prepared before they occur or disrupt health services.

The intended audiences for this interim handbook are health facilities, health service managers, health workers and health authorities with responsibility for planning and coordinating emergency management and service continuity operations among health facilities.

They can use this handbook to:

• enhance awareness of the necessity of service continuity planning and associated requirements;
• review and update their existing service continuity plans and other arrangements for health services continuity;
• develop service continuity plans if there are none for their health facilities.

This interim version will be updated as required in the light of lessons learned from its application in countries.

The document was based on a desk review of available literature and expert consultations within the World Health Organization.