Disaster response planning: an effective approach to disaster risk reduction in health & care organizations in Iran

Disasters are fortunately rare occurrences. However, careful planning and training are necessary in order to adequately prepare individual health and care organizations for such events. This paper aims to investigate disaster managementplanning and related exercises of health organizations in Iran. A quantitative and cross sectional study were performed and 230questionnaires were distributed among the health managers about comprehensive planning, operational cards or operational standard plans, business contingency plans and continuity plans. Data was analyzed by using SPSS and various statistical tests. Contingency plans, business continuity plans and action cards need to be employed although there are comprehensive plans within the organizations. Operational committees of disaster management have not taken appropriate measures to improve the ability and to deal with disasters. In order to improve the national disaster management system, somemeasures should be taken such as re-engineering the current system, implementing appropriate plans and preparedness, compiling standards and protocols, training staff and regular exercises.