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Surveillance and monitoring of health-related indicators
Operational definition
It is essential for policy- and decision-makers to have an updated, reliable and clear status of health distribution in their country. This function refers to the provision of information and intelligence to health needs assessments, health impact assessments and to planning for health services.
- Surveillance tools and resources
- Collection of data for subsequent action
- Integration, analysis, reporting and use in policy development and evaluation.
Scope of the function
Surveillance tools and resources
- Population surveys (multiple indicator cluster surveys, demographic health survey), including health examination surveys
- Disease registries
- Environmental sample-taking (air, water and soil)
- Civil registration and vital statistics
- Public health laboratory system
- Health technology assessment tools
- Health expenditure surveys.
Collection of data for subsequent action
- Quality and availability of data
- Health system performance
- Health management information system.
Integration, analysis, reporting and use in policy development and evaluation
- Analysis of health indicators data for the purpose of health sector planning
- Compliance with International Health Regulations
- Compliance with regard to NCD monitoring reports
- Development of annual health statistical reports
- Monitor and report on regional or global movements.
Preparedness and public health response to disease outbreaks, natural disasters and other emergencies
Operational definition
Emergency and disaster reduction in health includes prevention, mitigation, preparedness, early response and rehabilitation.
- Planning for prevention and preparedness;
- Management of mitigation, early response and rehabilitation in the event of public health emergencies and disasters that impact public health; and
- Implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR).
This includes involvement of the entire health system and the broadest possible intersectoral and inter-institutional collaboration by developing policies and plans, and executing activities that reduce the public health impact of emergencies and disasters.
Scope of the function
Planning for prevention and preparedness
- Periodic risk and vulnerability assessments
Natural hazards: meteorological (e.g., drought, heat wave, flood), geological (earthquake, landslide) and biological (pandemic/epidemic)
Human-caused hazards: accidents (workplace, transportation or structural) and intentional acts (civil disturbance, strike, hostage incident, terrorism, arson, etc.)
Technological hazards: utility outage, application failure, loss of connectivity, fire, explosion, hazardous material spill or release, transportation interruption
- Emergency planning
Health sector/cluster operational plan for all potential emergency situations
Pre-crisis mapping of “who does what where when” (4W matrix)
Sector-specific protocols in the event of an emergency
- Coordination structure
Surge mechanism
Roster of available technical specialists to advise in specific situations
Alert system for specific disease outbreaks and emergencies
Information management (coordination between health and other civil services)
Management
- Capacity to implement early response plan and mobilize resources
- Relief operations
- Surge deployment
- Recovery and reconstruction
- Rehabilitation.
International Health Regulations
- Fostering global partnerships
- Public health capacities for surveillance and response
- Public health security
- Management of specific risks
- Sustaining rights, procedures and obligations
- Performance of studies to track progress.
Health protection, including management of environmental, food, toxicological and occupational safety
Operational definition
Public health authorities undertake risk assessment and supervise enforcement and control of activities for minimizing exposure to health hazards in order to protect the population by ensuring environmental, occupational, toxicological and food safety.
- Legal and regulatory framework for health protection in the following areas, and in line with regional and global priorities and commitments;
- Supervision/monitoring and enforcement mechanisms; and
- Management and mitigation of risks.
Scope of the function
Legal and regulatory framework for health protection in the following areas, and in line with regional and global priorities and commitments:
- Environmental standards and regulations
- Occupational health protections and guidelines for industry
- Health codes for food safety (production, transport, distribution, labeling, marketing, sale)
- Smoke-free laws in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
- Road safety framework
- Consumer product safety norms, including on import/exports
Specific laws and regulations pertaining to patient safety:
Pharmaceutical safety and medical devices
Human blood, organs and tissue
Clinical safety norms
Supervision/monitoring and enforcement mechanisms
- Audits of water, air and soil quality
- Occupational hazards reporting system and workplace inspections
- Food chain monitoring
- Coordinated resource mobilization (incl with other civil servants such as police)
- Effective penalties for infractions.
Management and mitigation of risks
- Information and communication
- Existence of incentives for preventive actions
- Institutional capacity to respond to hazards.
