First U.S. national health security plan released
HHS releases the U.S. first-ever National Health Security Strategy; Tte new strategy outlines areas for federal, state, and local government agencies and nongovernment groups to focus on over the next four years
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) last weak released the U.S. first-ever National Health Security Strategy, which is designed to safeguard the health of the populace in the event of a bioterrorism incident or other large-scale crisis.
The new strategy outlines areas for federal, state, and local government agencies and nongovernment groups to focus on over the next four years, the agency said in a press release. “Whether it’s a pandemic or a premeditated chemical attack, our public health system must be prepared to respond to protect the interests of the American people,” HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in the release.
The strategy describes ten objectives aimed at reaching national health security. They include encouraging a strong countermeasures system that would develop, purchase and disperse medical treatments in the wake of a disaster; making “post-incident health recovery” a part of the planning and response program; and establishing and maintaining the personnel required for national health security.
Improved communications with the public, collaboration with international partners, and making sure that the most advanced scientific understanding is used for national health security efforts are other strategic objectives.
The strategy also recommends a new review of the U.S. current medical countermeasure system for producing and providing medical countermeasures (see U.S. Health and Human Services Department7 January release).
