Pandemic Influenza Planning – Some Issues for Consideration

by Schools of Nursing

November 15, 2006

Pandemic Influenza Planning – Some Issues for Consideration

by Schools of Nursing

November 15, 2006

By Dr. Brian Emerson, Medical Consultant, BC Ministry of Health

Brian.emerson@gov.bc.ca 250-952-1701

2

Role of Provincial health officer and Medical Health Officer (BC Health Act)

The Provincial health officer is the senior medical health officer and advises the minister, and senior members of the ministry, in an independent manner on health issues and on the need for legislation, policies and practices.

The Provincial health officer monitors the

health of the people of British Columbia, and provides information and analyses on health issues, makes reports to the public on health issues, or on the need for legislation or a change of policy, and makes annual reports.

3

Role of Provincial health officer and Medical Health Officer (BC Health

Act) The Provincial health officer may order a

medical health officer to take the action the Provincial health officer considers appropriate.

The Provincial health officer must establish and monitor professional standards for medical health officers.

The Provincial health officer may act in the place of a medical health officer.

The medical health officer is the chief health and sanitary official for the region, and must make annual reports.

4

Reassignment of health professionalsin an emergency (BC Emergency Program

Act) The minister may authorize or require any person

to render assistance of a type that the person is qualified to provide or that otherwise is or may be required.

Includes protection for liability for any loss, cost, expense, damage or injury to person or property that results from the person in good faith doing or omitting to do any act that the person is appointed, authorized or required to do unless, in doing or omitting to do the act, the person was grossly negligent, or was not acting in good faith.

A person's employment must not be terminated because the person is required to provide assistance.

5

Issues to consider in developing a pandemic influenza plan

PRE-PANDEMICPANDEMICPOST-PANDEMIC

Emergency Planning and Response Vaccines Antivirals Communications

6

Key Points

1. Emergencies are local – Therefore link to local planning processes i.e. institution, local government, local health agencies (public health, health care).

2. Incorporate into “all hazards” planning frameworks. Use pandemic planning to increase preparedness for any emergency.

3. The process of being involved in planning is more important than the documents produced. Being involved enables understanding, and connects the players personally to each other.