The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7349 p572
14 May 2005

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Call for WHO to co-ordinate disaster response

The world needs a network of experts and clear procedures to deal with mass fatalities and psychological trauma caused by disasters, health care professionals attending a World Health Organization conference in Phuket, Thailand, have recommended.

They conclude that unco-ordinated needs assessments are counterproductive and that there should be clear roles, responsibilities and operating procedures so that military and civilian organisations can work together on their responses. They also suggest that the WHO plays a more central role in disasters — directing volunteer doctors and nurses, distributing donated equipment and medicines and monitoring the health of affected communities.

The recommendations will be presented to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, next week.