FBiH Government revises crisis plan for coronavirus

(Patria) - The Government of the Federation of BiH, at today's session in Mostar, reviewed and adopted the revised Crisis Plan for Preparedness and Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Federation of BiH. The Federal Ministry of Health and the Public Health Institute of FBiH are tasked with its implementation within their competencies, and the Crisis Plan is being implemented in cooperation with competent health authorities in the cantons, as well as healthcare institutions in the FBiH. Other federal ministries and federal administration bodies are also tasked with implementation, if it is assessed that the implementation of certain measures from the Crisis Plan falls within their jurisdiction.

The Federal Ministry of Health and the Public Health Institute of FBiH are tasked with revising the Crisis Plan for Preparedness and Response to the Coronavirus and reporting to the Government of the Federation of BiH, based on the changed epidemiological situation regarding the coronavirus outbreak in the Federation of BiH.

The Government has tasked the Federal Civil Protection Headquarters, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Public Health Institute of FBiH to inspect the possible location in the former barracks "Bradina" for quarantine purposes, in cooperation with representatives of the BiH Ministry of Defence.

The Federal Government has recommended all public services and teleoperators to support the Crisis Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Health in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, by broadcasting or sending messages provided by the Crisis Headquarters. As explained, the goal of the Crisis Preparedness Plan is to identify, isolate, and treat early cases of infection, limit secondary infections among healthcare workers and close contacts, and prevent events that would lead to accelerated transmission of the disease.

The Crisis Plan regulates coordination at the level of the Federation of BiH, risk communication, surveillance, entry points, rapid response teams, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control, case management, and ensuring the continuity of health services, procedures for monitoring passengers in international traffic in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization, and measures for healthcare institutions. The Crisis Staff of the Federal Ministry of Health has warned healthcare institutions, especially clinical centers, of their obligation under Article 21 of the Law on Protection of the Population from Infectious Diseases to ensure the treatment, isolation, and hospitalization of those suffering from infectious diseases in clinics or infectious disease departments.

In accordance with Article 22 of this law, if an epidemic of certain infectious diseases occurs on a larger scale, isolation and treatment of the sick may also be carried out in other suitable facilities equipped for this purpose. The decision on isolation and treatment in these facilities is made by the cantonal minister of health upon the proposal of the cantonal public health institute, with the prior consent of the federal minister of health.

Furthermore, the crisis staffs of the cantonal ministries of health have been asked to provide data on possible quarantine locations in the cantons.