Region
Western Pacific Region
Country
Brunei Darussalam
Date
Status
Assessment Date
P.3.1 National IHR Focal Point functions
3
P.6.1 Surveillance of foodborne diseases and contamination
3
P.5.2 Response to zoonotic diseases
2
P.5.1 Surveillance of zoonotic diseases
4
P.4.2 Surveillance of AMR
3
P.4.1 Multisectoral coordination on AMR
3
P.3.4 Antimicrobial stewardship activities
3
P.3.3 Strategic planning for IHR, preparedness or health security
3
P.3.2 Multisectoral coordination mechanisms
3
P.2.1 Financial resources for IHR implementation
3
P.7.1 Whole-of-government biosafety and biosecurity system is in place for human, animal and agriculture facilities
5
P.1.3 A financing mechanism and funds are available for timely response to public health emergencies
5
P.1.2 Gender equity and equality in health emergencies
4
P.1.1 Legal instruments
4
D.4.4 FETP or other applied epidemiology training programme in place
3
D.4.3 In-service trainings are available
3
D.4.2 Human resources are available to effectively implement IHR
3
D.4.1 An up-to-date multi-sectoral workforce strategy is in place
3
P.6.2 Response and management of food safety emergencies
2
P.7.2 Biosafety and biosecurity training and practices in all relevant sectors (including human, animal and agriculture)
5
D.2.2 Event verification and investigation
3
Recommendation P6
Develop, finalize and officially endorse the national regulatory documents and guidelines for biosafety and biosecurity, including information security.
Ensure proper oversight of compliance with biosafety and biosecurity requirements at both national and institutional level through: (a) developing a National Framework for Biorisk Management, including an agreed set of national standards for biosafety and biosecurity; and (b) training and empowerment of designated biosafety and biosecurity officers at various tiers of the national laboratory system.
Work with local academic institutions to include biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management modules in the curricula of relevant courses related to the human and animal health and agriculture sectors.
Recommendation Re1
Develop a national interagency response plan for radiation emergencies that builds on the responsibilities contained in the NaSOP, and which establishes a clear chain of command for managing radiation emergencies.
Identify sources of additional radiation-relevant subject matter expertise for surge staffing, and establish mechanisms to access such staff during emergencies.
Procure radiation detection and monitoring equipment to meet the needs already identified for points of entry and first responders.
Recommendation R5
Enhance the risk communication system for emergency preparedness and response through regular staff development across multiple agencies, and provision of sustainable resources for activities and materials.
Conduct regular joint After Action Reviews and evaluations of risk communication strategies in partnership with relevant sectors, and document lessons to share with other sectors and for use in communications planning and assessing impact on behaviour change.
Develop guidance on the use of various communication channels in monitoring, documenting and responding to misinformation, fake news, and people’s risk perceptions, including on the strategic use of new and emerging communication technologies.
Recommendation R4
Strengthen capacity for rapid procurement and inventory management for priority threats, other IHRrelated hazards, and veterinary countermeasures— such as through advanced purchase agreements and stockpiling.
Update and test guidelines for case management to include the management of additional IHR-related hazards and concerns such as radiation and chemical exposure, trauma and potentially infectious patients.
Recommendation R2
Identify essential elements of technical, contextual, and response management information relevant to public health emergencies, and develop a coordinated mechanism for disseminating this information for analysis and action.
Establish an all-hazards, multi-sectoral, multi-tier exercise programme for public health emergencies that builds on core competencies training for emergency management, and which integrates existing exercise activities to review and test all relevant plans and procedures. This should include:
IHR areas of special emphasis, such as Points of Entry, Chemical and Radiation Emergencies and zoonotic diseases
Information-sharing across all tiers of government response, across sectors, and with international partners
Case management.
Establish a continuous improvement programme based upon exercises, After Action Reviews, and other evaluation activities. This should include senior level accountability for enhancement and maintenance of response capacities, and sharing of identified lessons
Recommendation R1
Develop a multi-sectoral, all-hazards risk assessment for use alongside After Action Reviews, in addition to the ongoing review of existing preparedness and response plans.
Develop a national risk register/profile that outlines the top five major health security threats in Brunei Darussalam along with relevant mitigation strategies, and use it to ensure that SOPs and relevant guidelines are fit for purpose.
Maintain up-to-date national inventories and stockpiles of key resources to deal with disasters and other public health emergencies.
Recommendation POE1
Maintain a written all-hazard public health emergency contingency plan, including infectious disease and other health emergencies, for designated points of entry, supported with routine review and evaluation.
Test unlikely and unexpected events and/or scenarios at designated points of entry, involving multisectoral staff at all levels.
Enhance multi-sectoral communication, coordination and effectiveness during peacetime.
Recommendation P7
Maintain high rubella and measles vaccination coverage among target populations, through assessment and monitoring of herd immunity using serological surveys.
Continue strengthening systems to detect suspected measles cases among foreigners (students and migrant workers) that could give rise to local transmission.
Strengthen the surveillance system for congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) by making CRS a notifiable disease and conducting a retrospective case review to provide evidence of the effectiveness of CRS surveillance.
Establish a National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) to provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers and programme managers on policy issues related to immunization and vaccines
Recommendation P5
Endorse and implement the National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan (NAFSER).
Develop workforce capacity to implement the NAFSER.
Test the NAFSER to ensure fitness-for-purpose, through simulation exercises and/or After Action Reviews of real-life scenarios.
Ensure that current surveillance systems capture the entire food chain.
R.1.1 Emergency risk assessment and readiness
2
Recommendation p4
Strengthen the legislative framework for the prevention and control of diseases in animals. Ensure that the draft Animal (Diseases and Quarantine) Order goes through the drafting and legislative process, with inputs from the human health sector and other relevant sectors.
Leverage the example set by the Joint National Taskforce on the Prevention and Control of Rabies for cooperation between human and animal health, and expand the scope of this Task Force to include all zoonotic diseases of public health concern.
Develop and strengthen the workforce for managing zoonotic diseases in both the human and the animal health sectors, especially in field epidemiology, risk assessment and risk management, and laboratory and diagnostic services (particularly for the animal health sector).
Address the recommendations of the 2013 Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Gap Analysis, particularly regarding the human, financial and physical resource requirements for strengthening relevant competencies.
Recommendation P3
Ensure effective implementation of the Brunei Darussalam AMR National Action Plan, and develop a robust evaluation strategy to ensure progress remains on track.
Establish a functioning National Surveillance Centre for AMR that is resourced with a competent and trained workforce capable of coordinating surveillance activities in both the human and animal health sectors.
Endorse and implement the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Plan and strengthen leadership and governance of infection control programmes at national level, through the establishment of an IPC Unit within the Ministry of Health.
Develop a National Human and Animal Health Antibiotic Stewardship Programme that strengthens antimicrobial stewardship at facility level, ensures and monitors compliance with guidelines, and promotes best practices that enhance optimal use of antimicrobials.
Recommendation P2
Conduct a simulation exercise and After Action Review at least once a year to test and strengthen the functionality of the IHR NFP and the National Committee for IHR Implementation.
Further strengthen multisectoral/multidisciplinary collaboration, in both the health and non-health sectors, to enhance information sharing between clinical, human and animal surveillance and laboratories, in order to ensure timely detection, assessment and response to public health threats
Recommendation P1
Test the Infectious Diseases Act using a simulated emergency response exercise, and develop supporting standard operating procedures and work instructions to facilitate its implementation.
Ensure that the National Committee for IHR Implementation has oversight of and responsibility for monitoring mechanisms for Brunei Darussalam’s compliance with the IHR (2005).
Ensure that guidelines on how to access the special budget for natural disasters and disease outbreaks are developed and disseminated.
R.3.1 Case management
3
R.2.3 Emergency Operations Program
3
R.2.2 Emergency Operations Center Operating Procedures and Plans
3
R.2.1 Public health and security authorities (e.g. law enforcement, border control, customs) are linked during a suspect or
3
R.1.2 Public health emergency operations centre (PHEOC)
3
D.2.3 Analysis and information sharing
4
D.2.1 Early warning surveillance function
4
D.1.4 Effective national diagnostic network
4
R4: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
R5: Average Capacities Score(%)
76
PoE: Average Capacities Score(%)
80
CE: Average Capacities Score(%)
80
RE: Average Capacities Score(%)
40
Recommendation Ce1
Develop a national chemical profile, and integrate existing relevant chemical inventory data into a national priority chemicals inventory with a regular update schedule.
Develop an updated national interagency response plan for chemical events that builds on the responsibilities contained in the multi-hazard National Standard Operating Procedure (NaSOP), and which establishes a clear chain of command for managing chemical emergencies.
Recommendation D1
Strengthen mechanisms for sharing laboratory information and expertise between the animal and human health laboratory systems, leveraging opportunities under the planned Joint National Taskforce for Zoonotic Diseases.
Establish a national mechanism for laboratory licensing based on the Private Healthcare Institution Order being developed by the Ministry of Health.
Assessment End Date
Recommendation D3
Strengthen existing reporting mechanisms to OIE through formalized SOPs and administrative procedures.
Enhance the function of the IHR NFP to conduct allhazard event assessments and reporting, by including chemical events and radiation emergencies in future exercises and trainings.
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Recommendation D4
Enhance coordination of recruitment, training, capacity building and core capabilities across various sectors to support the delivery of IHR core capacities—especially for laboratories, veterinary public health and wildlife health services, field epidemiology, public health nursing, biostatistics, entomology, risk communication, health security, CBRN surveillance and emergency preparedness/response.
Ensure adequate financial/budgetary support to increase animal health capacity as required by the PVS Gap Analysis and the IHR (2005).
Develop a plan for access to support for surge capacity, including from outside the Ministry of Health if needed.
Ensure the quality of the newly established frontline field epidemiology training programme (FETP) through training of trainers, participation in international networks, linking with more experienced FETPs in the region, and ongoing programme evaluation.
CE.1 Mechanisms are established and functioning for detecting and responding to chemical events or emergencies
4
R.4.1 IPC programmes
3
Recommendation R3
Establish and enhance mechanisms for systematic, timely sharing of information on hazards and threats of concern across relevant sectors, especially public health and security authorities.
Provide continuous training on personal protection and safety of first-line security personnel during a public health event.
Enhance existing capacity for joint threat assessments and responses to public health events by public health and security authorities, through development of SOPs, trainings and simulation exercises that include deliberate release of biological, chemical and radiation hazards.
D.3.1 Multisectoral workforce strategy
5
R.4.2 HCAI surveillance
3
D.3.2 Human resources for implementation of IHR
4
R.4.3 Safe environment in health facilities
3
Recommendation D2
Establish an electronic reporting mechanism for private healthcare facilities.
Incorporate automatic data analysis and alert functions into Bru-HIMS to enhance timely detection, risk assessment and decision-making.
Continue to strengthen event-based surveillance by taking advantage of existing platforms that pull information from multiple sources.
R.5.1 RCCE systems for emergencies
4
R.5.2 Risk communication
4
R.5.3 Community engagement
4
R.5.4 Communication Engagement with Affected Communities
3
R.5.5 Dynamic Listening and Rumour Management
4
D.1.1 Specimen referral and transport system
5
D.1.2 Laboratory quality system
4
D.1.3 Laboratory testing capacity modalities
4
RE.2 Enabling environment in place for management of radiological and nuclear emergencies
2
RE.1 Mechanisms are established and functioning for detecting and responding to radiological and nuclear emergencies.
2
PoE.1 Core capacity requirements at all times for PoEs (airports, ports and ground crossings)
4
PoE.2 Public health response at PoEs
4
P1: Average Capacities Score(%)
86
P2: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
P3: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
P4: Average Capacities Score(%)
40
P5: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
P6: Average Capacities Score(%)
50
P7: Average Capacities Score(%)
100
D1: Average Capacities Score(%)
85
D2: Average Capacities Score(%)
73
D3: Average Capacities Score(%)
90
D4: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
R1: Average Capacities Score(%)
50
R2: Average Capacities Score(%)
60
R3: Average Capacities Score(%)
60