Bhutan Embraces Compliance Risk Assessment Tools to Enhance Health Security
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhutan has recognized the importance of fortifying its health security systems to mitigate the impact of disasters and emergencies. To achieve this goal, the country has leveraged cutting-edge compliance risk assessment tools.
A National Risk Assessment Workshop
Recently, a 3-day workshop was held in Paro, Bhutan, where experts from various sectors converged to complete a national risk assessment using the Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks (STAR). The workshop aimed to facilitate an evidence-based evaluation of multi-hazard public health risks, aligning with strengthening core capacities required for compliance with the International Health Regulations (2005) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030).
Participants and Partners
Eleven key government and departmental stakeholders actively participated in the workshop, including representatives from:
- Bhutan Food and Drug Regulatory Authority
- National Medical Services
- Department of Geology and Mines
- Faculty of Nursing
- Other relevant organizations
The workshop was collaboratively conducted with partners such as the World Health Organization.
Workshop Objectives and Phases
The national facilitators diligently prepared for the workshop by collecting primary and secondary data, assessments, evaluations, and monitoring under the IHR; meteorological profile descriptions; and other pertinent country-specific information. Subject matter experts from various technical domains made significant contributions, offering recommendations for measures to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.
The workshop encompassed several key phases, including:
- Hazard identification
- Likelihood assessment
- Impact evaluation
- Risk level determination
- Formulation of a risk profile
Key Findings and Recommendations
Through the process of risk profiling, various hazards were identified as having a high level of risk, including:
- Earthquakes
- Glacial lake outburst floods
- Forest/wildfires
- Floods
- Landslides
- Dengue
- Avian influenza
- Others
The workshop yielded important results, including:
- A risk matrix
- Seasonal risk calendar
- Key actions and next steps
Next Steps and Implementation
The outcomes and recommendations of STAR will drive robust risk-informed planning and implementation of priority actions covered in Bhutan’s national multi-hazard disaster management plan, national health emergency operational response plan, contingency plan, business continuity plan, and National Action Plan for Health Security.
By leveraging compliance risk assessment tools, Bhutan is poised to enhance its health security systems and better prepare for disasters and emergencies.