Management Response and Action Plan: Evaluation of the National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)

Evaluation of the National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)
  Evaluation Recommendations Management Response Management Action Plan Deliverables Expected Completion Date Responsibility Accountability Resources

1

Retain some but not all of the current NESS asset mix. Focus on an appropriate public health role when planning for and determining the future strategic mix of assets rather than on a more general social services role in responding to events.

a) Continue to ensure the following stock is available for provincial/territorial surge:

  • pandemic preparedness supplies;
  • medical and pharmaceutical supplies for planned mass gatherings of national significance and unplanned natural or manmade disasters; and
  • chemical, biological and radio-nuclear (CBRN) countermeasures.

a) Agree

Develop, for Ministerial consideration, a policy frame for the NESS, which sets out the Government of Canada's role and responsibilities in this area, both domestically and internationally, in the context of provincial, territorial (P/T) and municipal roles and responsibilities for the provision of emergency health and social supplies.

Policy frame

June 2012

Director General (DG), Emergency Management and Regulatory Affairs (EMRA), in consultation with Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Strategic Policy, Planning and International Affairs Branch, (SPPIAB)

DG, EMRA

Existing budget

2 FTE

O&M – $40k (for consultations)

b) Consider eliminating social service supplies from the NESS asset mix, while ensuring their continued availability.

b) Do Not Agree; the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will continue to work with partners to ensure Canadians are supported in times of emergency.

The renewed policy frame and optimization plan will provide direction to the NESS asset inventory.

Develop, for the Minister's consideration, a plan for optimizing the inventory and asset mix in the NESS, in alignment with the policy frame.

Plan for optimizing the NESS inventory

September 2012

Engage with partners and interested parties (NGOs, municipalities, first responder communities) on the policy frame and inventory plans for NESS.

P/T, OGD, NGO Consultations

March 2013

2

Develop, resource and implement a disposal strategy to allow for the disposition of:

(a) equipment and supplies that are outdated, no longer meet current medical standards, or are of poor quality (i.e. emergency hospitals, casualty collecting units, etc.)

(b) individual social services items (cots and blankets) and social services units (i.e. mobile feeding units, reception centre kits, etc.)

Do Not Agree; the renewed policy frame and optimization plan will provide direction to the NESS asset inventory.

Consistent with the policy frame and optimization plan, develop strategies for acquisition, disposal and renewal of the NESS asset mix.

Implementation Plan

June 2013

DG, EMRA

DG, EMRA

Existing budget

2 FTEs

NESS has significant outdated equipment spread across the country.

Disposal costs could be significant depending on the disposal strategy and possible uses of the materials. e.g. destruction, transfer or sale.

3

Develop, implement and monitor a strategy to help communicate the Public Health Agency of Canada's role in stockpiling supplies for public health responses, considering the following target groups:

  • Other federal government departments and agencies
  • Provinces/territories, including specialized areas:
    • End users (health practitioners)
    • Materiel management specialists
    • Logistical teams

Agree

The DG of Communications will develop a comprehensive communications strategy that will detail various communications initiatives and outline necessary resource investments to communicate with NESS's stakeholders and partners and meet the communications objectives for NESS.

Communications strategy

January 2013

DG, EMRA in collaboration with DG, Communications

DG, EMRA

Existing budget

$60K O&M - includes information products, website, and stakeholder survey.

4

Include specific consideration of the NESS in the Agency's broader discussions of its international role.

Agree

Based on the H1N1 vaccine donation experience, the Agency has undertaken research and analysis on international donations. A PHAC policy and decision-making framework has been developed that includes NESS considerations.

PHAC policy and decision-making framework on international donations

December 2011

ADM, SPPIAD in collaboration with DG, EMRA

ADM, SPPIAD

DG, EMRA

Existing budget

.5 FTE

Page details

Date modified: