A State Level Sensitization Workshop for Hospital Administrators on Hospital Safety at State Health and Family Welfare Institute, Parimahal, Shimla was organized by HP State Disaster Management Authority.In an inaugural address, Shri D.D. Sharma, Special Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management said that disasters disrupt hospital health care and overcrowding could also functionally disrupt health services if the hospitals lack arrangements to a surge of patients and visitors. He said that it was essential to assess safety of existing health facilities and providing training to health workers so that they could respond in emergencies. Developing emergency risk management plans and response plans was necessary for mitigating disaster risk, he added.
Dr. D.S. Gurung, Director Health Services welcomed the participants and said that Hospital Administrators should undertake actions to reduce risks to disaster particularly earthquake related damages and losses to their hospitals. He stressed that the hospital administrators should have the proper communication plan, hospital supplies and stock in the hospitals and be in state of preparedness.
Shri Hari Kumar, Regional Coordinator, South Asia, Geohazards International on the occasion briefed on “Keeping hospitals functional after disaster events”. He said that there were different scenarios for different types of disasters and places and discussed various types of disasters which can occur in Himachal Pradesh He said that the structural and non-structural risks in hospitals were to be reduced to mitigate impacts of disaster. He stressed on emergency planning, staff-training and exercises build hospital capacity to manage risks and respond effectively.Dr. R.K. Baria, Principal, State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Parimahal, Shimla proposed the vote of thanks.Dr. R.C. Negi, Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. Ramesh Chand, Sr. Medical Superintendent, IGMC, Dr. Bhanu Awasthy, Nodal Officer, Dr. R.P. Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, and Nodal Officers of all District and Regional Hospitals in the State, Hospital Administrators, para-medical staff, faculties of IGMC and Tanda also attended the Workshop.