Question Bank Re: Disaster Preparedness
Potential additions to NSOAP Assessment Tools for the Pacific Islands
INFRASTRUCTURE
What to look for
Ensuring quintessential
resources are available and
in accordance with
guidelines, in the case of
an emergency
The supply chain would
be able to handle the stress
of a disaster, and ensuring
that the pipeline is
adequate
WORKFORCE
What to look for
Development of
human resources
relevant to disaster
preparation
Training and education
Why it matters
In disasters, a lack of adequate supplies,
and procurement of supplies can
exacerbate a number of unforeseen
problems and result in unnecessary
deaths
In disasters, it is important to know
how, and in what ways materials can be
acquired in order to avoid unnecessary
deaths and be able to acquire the
correct materials
Why it matters
A disaster preparedness strategy
must be equipped with a sufficient
number of staff qualified with an
appropriate mix of skills.
Palau stakeholders have emphasized
How to assess it Placement in
assessment tools
“Is the safety of blood and blood products Discussion framework:
(and their safe disposal) ensured in Diagnostic and
accordance with established guidelines?” ancillary services
“Do procedures exist for the exceptional
procurement of pharmaceutical supplies
that are not on the list of essential drugs?”
“Are there provisions in place for Discussion framework:
import-tax exemption for the speedy Supply chain
clearance of, blood and blood
products?”
“Are there procedures in place for
requesting, accepting and refusing
medicines, personnel, field hospital and
other services or donations provided by
international partners in the case of an
emergency?”
How to assess it Placement in
assessment tools
“Describe any human resources plans Discussion
for disaster management. How are framework:
responders’ roles structured?” challenges
“Are there procedures for integrating
volunteers into service delivery?” Semi-structured
“What are the gaps between skilled staff interview: hospital
and human resources needs for director
emergency plans?”
“How might needs for disaster response Discussion
for specific needs a lack of nursing staff, which the differ from typical capacities, and how framework:
WHO places a special emphasis on can the gap in competencies be filled?” background
for disaster management. “What are the available training relevant
Particularly relevant training to disaster preparation?” Semi-structured
include: mass-casualty management, interview: hospital
search & rescue, chemical incidents, director, surgical
etc. nurses

SERVICE DELIVERY

What to look for Why it matters How to assess it Placement in

assessment tools

Identify in detail Understanding how they currently How does your facility address disaster Semi structured
current initiatives and manage disaster preparedness will help preparedness, please describe current hospital interview tool
quickly identify what works, what does
weather they are not and where the gaps are
initiatives in place if any.
theoretical or practical
shapes further steps in
modifying NSOAPS

Deep meaningful Learning the concerns and barriers What are the facility’s concerns or Semi structured
conversations and from the stakeholders standpoint barriers to plan on disaster hospital interview tool

stories from the past, before anything will guide PGSSC preparedness?
and why they have as a baseline on how to incorporate
these concerns and disaster preparedness to NSOAP
barriers in qualitative
and quantitative ways

Look for clear Having the funds only will not be Do these plans define mechanisms for Discussion tool
stakeholder productive if we do not have quick activation, coordination, command and
understanding and ways access and utilize them in the control for disaster preparedness?
clear articulation of face of disaster preparedness
strategies on using
emergency funds

Training, knowledge and expertise Are the necessary resources and trained Educational
Gaps in knowledge and of routine healthcare workers could staff available for doing so? background,
discussion tool
training for disaster be quite different from that of
preparedness disaster and continuous training
 for high risk areas like Palau will
enhance service efficiency.
FINANCING
What to look for Why it matters
What are the funding Developing funding policies,
mechanisms to Disaster procedures and mechanisms for
preparedness? disaster preparedness that are
separate from the national health
budget is crucial.
How is the
procurement process of Facilities with a more bureaucratic
emergency funds? chain and complicated
Multi hierarchy or procurement process are associated
with poorer outcomes while those
shorter line of chain for
with shorter decision chain have
decisions?
better outcomes in the face of
disaster preparedness. So being
specific might help point out.
How much of the Finding ways of quantifying funds
national health budget might help standardize
in percentage goes to requirements for each facility in
How to assess it Placement in
assessment tools
By quantifying the amount of funds set
aside for disaster preparedness, Semi structured
understanding the financial strategies hospital interview tool
and knowing the potential and existing
funders as well as key stakeholders will
make the NSOAP more objective and
easy to keep track of.
Understanding the financial strategies Discussion framework
will help make recommendations so that
more efficient ways of not only
allocating but also managing and using
these funds to where it is needed the
most will be helpful.
Semi structured
Engaging with key stakeholders like hospital interview tool
MOH and funders like WHO on
calculating funds
 terms of deciding surgical priorities
the Disaster under emergency conditions.
Preparedness?

Allocating a certain percentage of the Discussion framework

Is there also funding for Allocating funds for research and
risk mapping and risk assessment will help us learn
assessment? from past events and mapping out
potential damage and plan
accordingly.
disaster preparedness funds into not just
acute management but research will help
make a good estimate and appropriate
planning as well as keep track of
NSOAP reviews and updates.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

What to look for Why it matters How to assess it Placement in

assessment tools

Reliable database with It’s important that the database can “Does the surveillance system provide Surgical assessment
adequate health quickly and efficiently work across for data-sharing with agricultural, tool
information that can multiple different factions in the veterinary and environmental-disease
disseminate information government to coordinate more surveillance systems?”
quickly and efficiently quickly during disasters.
“Are there complete and up-to-date
during emergencies.
registries available to facilitate the
mapping of the following assets?
health facilities (public and private);
pharmacies and medical stores;
cold stores; laboratories; blood banks;
human (health-related) resources;
medical supplies and equipment for
emergency-response operations.”
“Do emergency managers have access to
relevant data (including data on trauma
and injuries, communicable diseases,
vector-borne diseases, water quality,
nutrition, noncommunicable diseases
and food safety)?”
“Are the triggers for switching from
routine to emergency reporting
defined?”
GOVERNANCE

What to look for Why it matters How to assess it Placement in

assessment tools

Laws, policies, plans, A clear legal framework for
and procedures relevant multisectoral and health-specific
to national disaster emergencies is critical to a
management comprehensive public preparedness
strategy. Put differently, what’s the
plan?
“What policies are in place for Discussion
responding to regional emergencies?” framework:
“What are the procedures for declaring additional section on
and terminating a state of emergency?” emergency
“What mechanisms exist to allocate preparedness
resources?”

Structure for Revealing the scope of authority of “Who are the relevant leaders for disaster Discussion
management and stakeholders and partners, including response plans? From political steering framework:
coordination of disaster public and private agencies, and committees to operational entities.” additional section on
response defining roles and responsibilities “How are roles and responsibilities emergency
enables plans to be mobilized. distributed?” preparedness
Put differently, who runs different
parts of the plan?

Accessibility of external Reviewing regulations on
emergency assistance international relief activities may
determine any provisions related to
foreign medical teams, etc., and the
importation of medicines, other
supplies, and equipment.
“Are there any regulations relevant to Discussion
the entry of foreign health workers to framework:
provide emergency relief?” additional section on
“Are there any regulations relevant to emergency
donations of health and medical items?” preparedness

Programs establishing Taking a systems-focused view of “How present are disaster response plans Discussion
and maintaining preparedness, these programs would at each tier of healthcare? How are plans framework:
disaster preparedness carry out consistent research, disseminated? additional section on
planning, and education on risks of “Do plans include emergency response emergency
emergency, disaster mitigation, and training or resource allocation?” preparedness
response protocols.

Sources
The above criteria and questions were synthesized from the following sources:
1. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Toolkit for Assessing Health-system
Capacity for Crisis Management, Part 1: User manual. World Health Organization 2012.
2. Van Minh H, et al. Primary healthcare system capacities for responding to storm and flood-
related health problems: a case study from a rural district in central Vietnam. Glob Health
Action 2014.