Government information, plans & assistance | B. How decisions will be made during a pandemic

Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

B. How decisions will be made during a pandemic

Part 1: Australia's Health Plan for Pandemic Influenza

Part 2: How individuals can help control the spread of the virus

Part 3: More information for decision makers and health professionals

D. Looking to the future

A number of decisions made in the pandemic are the responsibility of health sector, decision makers. Health decision makers provide advice to whole of government on some matters where health imperatives are weighed against broader concerns in other sectors, because of the social and economic implications.

A whole of government decision in this document refers to one that is taken by decision makers from all sectors. These whole of government decisions can be made nationally, within states and territories, or as a joint agreement between all levels of government.

Table 4 outlines the major decision points for actions described in this plan (listed in the first column). The aim of this table is to outline which decisions are made within the health sector and when these decisions are referred to the whole of government because of their broader implications.

Decision makers are identified in bold text. Decisions made within the health sector are shown in the second column. The second column also describes the provision of advice to decision makers within the health sector.

Whole of government decisions are shown in the third column.

Table 4: Major decision points for actions described in this plan and those responsible for making them

Decision point	Health sector	Whole of government
Operational Objective 1: Communications
What phase is Australia in?	EAG advises the CMO, who advises Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing	Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing advises Prime Minister, who makes decision and informs state and territory leaders, head of Australian Local Government Association, the Governor-General and the public
Do we need to change our planning assumptions? How effective have the interventions been?	SPAG (via CMO) and PCN advises the AHPC	AHPC provides amended assumptions
How are the public and the health professionals perceiving and reacting to the pandemic and the interventions?	NHEMRN and CHOs advise AHPC	AHPC provides information to inform whole of government communications as needed
What public communications measures are required?	AHPC agrees specific health messages within health sector with advice from the NHEMRN	AHPC provides advice on health measures and messages to be included within whole of government communications
What information will be provided to health professionals?	AHPC agrees specific messages to health professionals	AHPC provides advice on health measures to be included within whole of government communications if required
Operational Objective 2: Minimising transmission of a pandemic virus
Is there evidence that overseas support would delay the arrival of pandemic to Australia? What is the most appropriate assistance?	AHPC, with evidence from SPAG via CMO	AHPC advises whole of government Whole of Government decision at Australian government level
How should antivirals be used?	PCN and SPAG via CMO advise the AHPC	*
When should community interventions be implemented and lifted?	AHPC, with evidence from SPAG via CMO	AHPC advises whole of government Whole of government decision, primarily at state and territory level
Who should be given the stockpiled candidate pandemic vaccine and the initial customised pandemic vaccine?	AHPC, with evidence from SPAG via CMO	AHPC advises whole of government Whole of government decision at Australian Government and state and territory level
Operational Objective 3: Ensure health services are optimised to reduce overall morbidity and mortality
How should health care workers be protected?	SPAG and PCN advise the AHPC	*
How should health work force be optimised?	Individual jurisdictional decision with advice from AHPC, if national consistency were required	*
When should influenza services be implemented?	Individual jurisdictional decision with advice from AHPC if national consistency were required	*
How and when should life-saving non- influenza services and support services be maintained?	Individual jurisdictional decision, with advice from AHPC, if national consistency were required	*
How and when should non-influenza preventative services be optimised?	Individual jurisdictional decision, with advice from AHPC if national consistency were required	*
* May become a whole of government decision in maintenance
Operational Objective 4: Working across government
Advice to other sectors and whole of government	AHPC provides best practice advice on control and protection strategies	Whole of government and individual sectors make decisions based on health advice as appropriate
Interdependencies impacting the health sector	AHPC identifies and monitors interdependencies from other sectors	Whole of government decision on how best to address vulnerabilities in health sector
* May become a whole of government decision in maintenance

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

Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

B. How decisions will be made during a pandemic

Table of Contents

Table 4: Major decision points for actions described in this plan and those responsible for making them

Current Status

Translated information

Government information, plans & assistance