Kerala govt. constitutes multi-tier expert committees to establish epidemic management plan

The Kerala government has decided to establish a comprehensive epidemic management framework involving all stakeholders to enhance preparedness, prevention, and surveillance of infectious diseases. It also aims to facilitate the management of treatment and ensure a coordinated response to such diseases.

To aid this, the government has issued orders setting up four high-power committees – a State high-power steering committee, State-level expert advisory committee, district-level steering committee and institution-level steering committee

The State high-power steering committee, headed by the Health Minister and with senior Health officials and heads of institutions as members, will have the task of updating the State epidemic management plan.

This will include the preparation of the annual epidemic calendar, updation of early warning and surveillance mechanisms, updation of standard treatment protocols and formulation of new protocols wherever necessary, updation of quarantine protocols, capacity building and preparedness of healthcare institutions and community-level coordination.

The epidemic management plan will clearly specify when, where and what preventive measures should be undertaken and who is responsible for each activity. Patient management, quarantine protocols, rehabilitation and psycho-social support mechanism, media communication strategies, procurement protocols, inter-department coordination and monitoring and reviewing mechanisms to be established at the State and district levels

The State-level expert advisory committee will hold discussions and interactions with stakeholders including government, study international and national best practices and submit proposals to government outlining suggestions on how the epidemic management plan can be updated

The district-level committees chaired by the District Collectors will hold weekly meetings and the institution-level committees will hold daily meetings at the respective institutions to ensure that in the event of an outbreak/reporting of an infectious disease, the necessary protocols are in place at the district for patient management and containment of spread of infection.