Hospitals play a vital role in protecting health and saving lives during disasters and public health emergencies. In 2024–2025, hospitals across Armenia completed comprehensive Hospital Safety Index (HSI) assessments to evaluate their structural, nonstructural and functional safety. The next step is to transform these results into concrete actions that strengthen preparedness and response.
To support this process, the WHO Country Office in Armenia and WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Armenia, will convene a 2-day hospital emergency response planning (HERP) workshop. The training will focus on building the capacity of hospital teams and health authorities to interpret HSI results and translate them into evidence-based emergency response plans. It will also serve as an introduction to the WHO HERP approach, linking vulnerability assessment with strategic planning to enhance hospital and health-system resilience.
Recognizing Armenia’s exposure to floods, earthquakes and other hazards, the workshop will emphasize practical, risk-based planning and coordination. Sessions will include the presentation and discussion of HSI findings from hospitals that participated in the 2024–2025 assessments, expert feedback on methodologies and interpretation, and guided exercises on the structure and use of HERPs. Participants will also take part in a scenario-based exercise simulating a national disaster situation, including the application of planning principles and coordination mechanisms in real time.
The event will bring together approximately 30 participants, including representatives from hospitals that conducted HSI assessments, the Ministry of Health, the Emergency Situation Centre of Armenia and WHO technical experts.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have strengthened their understanding of how to integrate HSI data into hospital emergency planning, identified hospital-specific vulnerabilities and priority actions, and gained practical experience in applying HERP principles.
This workshop marks a key milestone in Armenia’s efforts to move from assessment to action, ensuring that hospitals are better prepared to protect lives and maintain critical services during emergencies.