National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Network

Emergencies and disasters are part and parcel of life, which affect all parts of the globe. It causes harm to human livelihood, organization, or society and jeopardizes the goal of sustainable development. Chaos cannot be prevented during the initial period of a major disaster, but it has to be the aim of every disaster operation plan to keep response time as short as possible.

In Pakistan, Ministry of Health (defunct) responded to the past emergencies including earthquake 2005, flood / cyclone 2007, Balochistan Earthquake 2008 and ongoing IDP crises in spite of the absence of a formal emergency preparedness and response structure. The gigantic task was achieved through combined efforts of all stake holders. Health Emergency Cell was established in Ministry of Health (defunct) in collaboration with WHO to coordinate the relief activities, and provide active medical support as well as the implementation mechanism.

In compliance with National Disaster Risk Management Framework Pakistan, approved by the Cabinet, decision was taken by the government to move forward and make concerted effort to enhance our disaster response / management capabilities in health sector. Concept turned into reality with the establishment of NHEPRN to undertake the task, incorporating risk reduction and mitigation approaches as well in the health sector.

On 10th March 2010, Federal Ministry of Health (defunct) established NHEPRN. In order to institutionalize the concept of health emergency in Pakistan, after devolution of Federal Ministry of Health in 2011, NHEPRN became part of the cabinet division. Now it has been transferred to Federal Ministry of NHSR&C since 4th May 2013. Its office is located in the Prime Minister’s National Health Complex at Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on February 27, 2013.

NHEPRN has been assigned the role of Disaster Risk Management in Health Sector and is responsible for all aspects of health related emergency management including; Prepadrness, Response & Recovery.