Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

4.2 Identify and monitor interdependencies from other sectors on health infrastructure and services essential for health system function

Support from other sectors may be needed for the health sector to achieve its operational objectives. These ‘interdependencies’ need to be identified, contingency plans developed and vulnerabilities monitored throughout the pandemic.

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

Information technology and other communications systems need to be functioning for health authorities to be able to gather the appropriate information to support critical decision making and communicate with the public and health professionals.

The health sector is working closely with the communications sector to identify communication infrastructure that may be vulnerable during a pandemic, through Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Groups.

Operational Objective 2: Minimise transmission of the pandemic virus

Some individuals may require social support in order to be able to comply with community public health interventions such as home isolation of cases, home quarantine of contacts and school closures. The health sector recognises that high levels of compliance will be required for these measures to be effective. The health sector is working with the key sectors that provide these types of services to identify ahead of time issues that could become critical during a pandemic.

Operational Objective 3: Optimise the health system to reduce morbidity and mortality

For health systems to function adequately, power, water, transportation and range of other essential services must be operating. The health sector is working with the key sectors that provide these types of services to identify ahead of time issues that could become critical during a pandemic.

Phase snapshot: Identify and monitor interdependencies from other sectors on health infrastructure and services essential for health system function

PHASE	HEALTH ACTION
ALERT	Participate in whole of government planning at national and jurisdictional level Identify health sector vulnerabilities and inform relevant sectors and whole of government decision makers
DELAY	Reassess likely health sector vulnerabilities Inform relevant sectors and whole of government decision makers
CONTAIN	Monitor health sector vulnerabilities Inform relevant sectors and whole of government decision makers
SUSTAIN
CONTROL	Continue to monitor health sector vulnerabilities
RECOVER	Reassess health sector vulnerabilities during recovery phase Inform relevant sectors and whole of government decision makers
Linked document	National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic

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