Assessment of health systems' crisis preparedness - Poland

In 2008, with the support of the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers, WHO launched the project, "Support to health security, preparedness planning and crises management in EU, EU accession and neighbouring (ENP) countries", with the aim of improving preparedness for public health emergencies in EU Member States and selected EU accession and ENP countries in the WHO European Region. One of the objectives of this project was to refine the assessment tool, which had been revised on the basis of the experience gained through the planning and crises management assessments carried out in Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Republic of Moldova under the joint European Commission–WHO project, "Support to health security and preparedness planning in EU neighbouring countries" (2007–2008). The intention was to apply the updated tool during a second round of assessments before finalizing it in 2010. The countries involved in the second round were Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Ukraine. The WHO health systems’ framework was used as the conceptual basis for describing and analysing the health systems in the countries.

This report describes the level of preparedness of the health system in Poland and evaluates the arrangements in place to deal with crises, regardless of cause. It also examines the risk prevention and mitigation initiatives in the country. While the main focus is on the national level, some attention has been paid to crisis management capacity at the regional level and to the links between the various levels of government. In addition, the report considers the topic of mass gatherings and public health.

Keywords
Process assessment (health care)
Disaster planning
Emergencies
Risk management
Health systems plans
Delivery of health care - organization and administration
Poland