WHO, MOH look to improve hospital safety

By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-08 09:40

Hospitals must be able to provide care during emergencies, rather than become victims.

"The tragedy of a major emergency or disaster is compounded when health facilities fail," said Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO and the Ministry of Health Tuesday launched a campaign to improve hospital safety during emergencies.

They called for improved design and construction of hospitals and healthcare facilities, and strengthened training for health staff to handle all emergencies, including natural disasters, conflict and disease outbreaks.

"With our world threatened by the harmful effects of climate change, more frequent extreme weather events and armed conflicts, it is crucial that we all do more to ensure that healthcare is available at all times to our citizens, before, during or after a disaster," Chan said.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province last May killed 90,000 people and damaged 11,000 health facilities.

Apart from increased suffering and loss of life, Chan said, the failure of health facilities during an emergency can enrage the public, especially when shoddy construction or building code violations are at fault.

Deputy Health Minister Huang Jiefu said Tuesday that China has attached importance to hospital safety and capacity building in dealing with emergencies among health staff.

"The ministry has required all medical institutions to provide secure and solid medical service and emergency service to the public," he said.

The Ministry of Health revised construction standards last July, upgrading all major hospitals and township clinics to a level above local buildings, Huang said.

Nationwide, since the 2003 SARS breakout, the State Council has allocated 11.4 billion yuan ($1.67 billion) on a medical and rescue network.

WHO is urging all countries to review the safety of existing healthcare facilities and ensure new facilities are built with safety in mind.

Eric Laroche, assistant director-general for WHO's Health Action in Crises Cluster, said a lot of lives can be saved if health systems were better protected from emergencies.

"The most expensive health facility is the one that fails, both in human and financial terms," Laroche said.