Key Findings
- Australia was in a good position to respond rapidly to the emerging threat from pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.
- There was strong commitment from all public health officials to support teamwork across governments.
- The pandemic advisory committee structures should be reviewed.
- The fundamental purpose of the Australian pandemic phases and the actions they drive needs further consideration.
- A decision support document to identify possible public health actions during a pandemic and their risks and benefits could enhance decision making.
- A streamlined process to facilitate availability of research outcomes to guide the real-time public health response should be developed.
Text box 1: Governance and decision making guidance from AHMPPI 2008
Objective
- Operational objective 1: Communicate the best available information to decision makers, health professionals and the public.
- Operational objective 4: Work in partnership across government.
- Ensure that decision making is effective, timely and transparent.
- Ensure that accurate health advice is provided and that interdependencies are identified and addressed.
- A number of decisions made in a pandemic are the responsibility of health sector decision makers.
- Health decision makers provide advice to whole of government on some matters where health imperatives are weighed against broader concerns such as the social and economic implications.
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