Interagency Emergency Health Kit 2017

Serves an outreach population of 10 000 people for 3 months 

The IEHK Secretariat called for a revision of the kit content in 2017 to acknowledge changes in the kit content. Below described changes were considered and agreed as necessary by the technical committee. This new content of the IEHK 2017 replaces the 2011/2015 IEHK versions. The proposed changes were endorsed by the review committee on July 2018. The IEHK-2017, such as the previous IEHK, is intended for use only in the early phase of an emergency. The kit is neither designed nor recommended for re-supplying existing health-care facilities.

Composition of the IEHK-2017

Basic module

• Removal of magnesium trisilicate and replacement with omeprazole in line with EML recommendations.
• Lower strength of ibuprofen from 400mg to 200mg to cater to children’s needs.

Supplementary module

Cardiovascular diseases

• Inclusion of medicines for treatment of acute severe hypertension, acute coronary syndrome, acute stroke and acute heart failure (acetylsalicylic acid, amlodipine, enalapril, glyceryl trinitrate, furosemide and heparin sodium).
• Increase in the quantity of hydrochlorothiazide to allow for treatment of acute severe hypertension.
• Replacement of atenolol by bisoprolol (based on EML update).

Diabetes

• Inclusion of human insulin (and insulin syringes) for stabilization of acute life-threatening hyperglycaemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Inclusion of glucometer and urine test strips for ketones, glucose and albumin.

Pulmonary diseases

• Inclusion of beclomethasone and increase in the amount of salbutamol inhalers for treatment of acute asthma and acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation.
• Increase in the quantity of prednisolone 5mg tablets to cover treatment of COPD and asthma.
• Inclusion of pulse oximeter for monitoring acute respiratory distress.

Other changes

• Inclusion of morphine tablets (immediate release) 10 mg.
• Replacement of phenobarbital with carbamazepine 200 mg scored tablet for easier access. Phenobarbital remains a secondary option in case carbamazepine is not available, or if the country allows for phenobarbital importation
• Revision of anti-infective medicines (replacement of cloxacillin by cefalexin to adapt to new recommendations, miconazole muco-adhesive tabs by nystatin suspension and removal of procaine benzylpenicillin, both for unavailability of quality assured products).
• Removal of promethazine (no longer on EML).
• Replacement of amitriptyline by fluoxetine following EML.
• Increase in the amount of glucose for treatment of acute severe hypoglycaemia.
• Introduction of new types of sutures to cover skin and face suturing.
• Inclusion of guidelines on mental health (mhGAP Humanitarian Intervention Guide. Clinical Management of Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Conditions in Humanitarian Emergencies. WHO/UNHCR, 2015.) and non/communicable diseases (Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) Disease Interventions for Primary Health Care in Low-Resource Settings. WHO, 2010.).

Items for treatment of Malaria and Post Exposure Prophylaxis were changed during an interim update in 2015 therefore no changes in that modules for the IEHK 2017.

Download the IEHK 2017 content list →

Following the update of malaria and PEP modules of the IEHK 2011 in December 2015, the remaining components of the kit were further assessed by experts from humanitarian agencies during 2016 and 2017. The report of the two meetings conducted to review the kit incorporates the recommendations and agreed content for the IEHK 2017, which will be introduced in a coordinated manner from mid-2018. The content of the new kit is aligned with latest recommendations on selection and use of medicines and medical devices and incorporates new elements to treat acute conditions related to non-communicable diseases.

Download the IEHK 2015 content list→

View revision of the malaria and PEP module in the IEHK 2015