Emergency preparedness: Health facilities on alert for election day
Centralised control rooms to be set up, hospitals told to work 24 hours
Lady Reading Hospital. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
With the election campaigning already seeing violence, the provincial health department has directed hospitals to remain alert and to set up a centralised control room at the office of the health services director general and the office of the health secretary.
The orders were issued to handle any emergency situation which develops either on election day on July 25 or after.
“There shall be a centralised control and monitoring room at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health services DG office manned by officers and a similar [room] at the health secretary office [which would operate] 24 hours during these two day [July 25, 26],” an official document issued by the health department read.
The order stated that all the hospitals under the administrative control of the health department, including the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) to those in category ‘D’, will operate around the clock on both of these days without any break.
It added that the accident and emergency departments at these hospitals will remain on alert with sufficient medicines, human resource, functional equipment, and power generators.
All heads of hospitals have been directed to make sure that they are present in their respective health facilities on both of the days.
“Failing which strictest disciplinary action will be taken against all those found guilty for violating the orders,” the department warned.
The orders were also issued for the independent monitoring unit of the health sector. IMU members were directed to act as a coordinating organ for both the days and that IMU staff should be deployed at all major health facilities across the province adding that for facilities, where landlines were not available, cellular phones should be notified.
“No leaves for staff members will be allowed for these two days however local staff can be given short leave (in installments) to poll their vote,” it read adding staff not on duty should remain on call.
It also stated that in case of emergency beyond the capacity of a particular health facility, director general health services’ office control room will be coordinating for referrals to a nearby facility adding that a review of the implementation of the above should be held in health department on July 23 to assess if all instructions have been implemented and readiness ensured.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2018.
With the election campaigning already seeing violence, the provincial health department has directed hospitals to remain alert and to set up a centralised control room at the office of the health services director general and the office of the health secretary.
The orders were issued to handle any emergency situation which develops either on election day on July 25 or after.
“There shall be a centralised control and monitoring room at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health services DG office manned by officers and a similar [room] at the health secretary office [which would operate] 24 hours during these two day [July 25, 26],” an official document issued by the health department read.
The order stated that all the hospitals under the administrative control of the health department, including the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) to those in category ‘D’, will operate around the clock on both of these days without any break.
It added that the accident and emergency departments at these hospitals will remain on alert with sufficient medicines, human resource, functional equipment, and power generators.
All heads of hospitals have been directed to make sure that they are present in their respective health facilities on both of the days.
“Failing which strictest disciplinary action will be taken against all those found guilty for violating the orders,” the department warned.
The orders were also issued for the independent monitoring unit of the health sector. IMU members were directed to act as a coordinating organ for both the days and that IMU staff should be deployed at all major health facilities across the province adding that for facilities, where landlines were not available, cellular phones should be notified.
“No leaves for staff members will be allowed for these two days however local staff can be given short leave (in installments) to poll their vote,” it read adding staff not on duty should remain on call.
It also stated that in case of emergency beyond the capacity of a particular health facility, director general health services’ office control room will be coordinating for referrals to a nearby facility adding that a review of the implementation of the above should be held in health department on July 23 to assess if all instructions have been implemented and readiness ensured.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2018.