Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

Aim, goals and objectives of pandemic planning

The overarching aim of pandemic preparedness across all sectors is to protect Australians and to reduce the impact of a pandemic on social function and the economy. This is an aim that all sectors across all governments will be working towards during a pandemic and forms the framework for a whole of government response.

The goal of the health sector during a pandemic is to minimise the impact of an influenza pandemic on health and the health sector.

Underpinning the health sector goal are four operational objectives that guide and focus the health sector response during an influenza pandemic.

These objectives are:

Operational Objective 1: Communicate the best available information to decision-makers, health professionals and the public.

Operational Objective 2: Minimise transmission (spread) of the pandemic virus.

Operational Objective 3: Optimise the health system to reduce mortality (death) and morbidity (illness).

Operational Objective 4: Work in partnership across all sectors of government to support the whole of government aim of protecting Australians and reducing the impact of a pandemic on social functioning and the economy.

This document uses the health sector goal and the four operational objectives to guide planning and to assist in prioritising the types of interventions that would be implemented during a pandemic. More detail about the goals and objectives is in Part 1, Section C with a description of the types of interventions considered at each phase of the pandemic to ensure achievement of the goal and objectives.

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008