The Times of India: 'Most hospitals have no strategic plan for disaster management'

"Citizens and hospital authorities wake up to the need for a disaster management plan after an event, the learning from which is forgotten soon after. Prevention of a disaster and public awareness on the subject remains a major limitation," said one of the experts attending a two-day national conference 'Exploring the horizon of disaster prevention and management - The role of hospitals'.

"Most hospitals have no strategic planning for disaster management. They deal with disasters in an ad hoc manner. The hospitals are usually ignorant of what disaster they may be called upon to manage," said Dr Bharucha, director of Bharati Vidzapeeth Deemed University's Center for Health Management Studies and Research, reports the Times of India. He warned, that mock drills would be needed and added, "Citizens and hospital authorities wake up to the need for a disaster management plan after an event, the learning from which is forgotten soon after. Prevention of a disaster and public awareness on the subject remains a major limitation.”

Other experts attending highlighted the need for nuclear, biological and chemical disaster preparedness in addition to preparing for natural hazards, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in preparedness and recovery.