Articles
7. Existing health facilities
Unlike new health facilities, a country’s existing facilities, in their present state, will be called upon to provide emergency medical services to the public in a disaster situation. In this connection, knowing the safety levels of these buildings is a major concern if countries are to implement corrective measures based on real information and organize the health services to meet the demand that arises.
7.1. Assessment of the level of safety
The absence of accurate and up-to-date information on safety levels and conditions in the health facilities and the fact that many facilities are located in difficult to reach areas have often hindered quantitative assessments of unsafe health facilities and their vulnerability.
7.2. Prioritizing interventions
Making all facilities safe in disasters is a great challenge, both because of the number of facilities and because of the investment needed to improve safety.
Thus, action must be prioritized, both at the level of health networks and within facilities. The Hospital Safety Index can aid in this task..
7.3. Improving structural safety
Columns, beams, walls, slabs, foundations and other components form the structural elements that are part of the system that supports a building. Structural engineers should conduct both the assessment and design of these elements. Click here to take a short virtual tour through a ‘safe’ hospital.