As part of the MOH’s unabated fight against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the National Health Emergency Operations Center (NHEOC) has continued its colossal efforts meant to combat the disease. Functioning as the command and control room, the Center is responsible for orchestrating and implementing the Ministry’s roles having to do with disaster and crisis management, as set out in the applicable laws and regulations. It also serves as the official, swift link between MOH and the other government agencies with relevance, such as the Red Crescent Authority and the Department of Civil Defense.
Deemed to be the point of connection with the health affairs directors at all KSA regions, NHEOC is linked to all hospitals, healthcare centers and other health sectors, both public and private. The Center oversees, monitors and follows up all health incidents that affect the health of individuals, and may cause collective losses. Such incidents might be epidemic outbreaks, fire accidents or human accidents. Besides, the Center monitors the performance of hospitals as well as the regional health directorates they report to. If there arises the need to invoke a higher level of support, the Center intervenes to manage the crisis, and orchestrate governmental communication in an effort to contain the consequences of that incident.
The role of NHEOC is not limited to addressing and managing crises when they take place. More importantly, it seeks to define their causes and makes every effort to prevent their recurrence. This proactive role is at the heart of the Center’s mission. It conducts a periodic survey of risks, both inside and outside health facilities, at the regional level. Thereupon, it analyzes their causes, drafts periodic reports, and prepares action plans meant to prevent the recurrence of disasters due to those causes, in addition to getting ready to address the consequences beforehand.
With its 20 branches throughout the Kingdom’s regions (a branch at each regional health directorate), NHEOC welcomes direct communication. Each regional NHEOC branch oversees the public and private hospitals located in that region, and how it addresses the incidents that may occur therein. The incident shall be escalated to the Center if there arises the need for support. In so doing, NHEOC realizes the Saudi Vision 2030, especially Goal 3: reducing health risks.