Continuity Planning

Examples of unlikely but not impossible events include a serious health crisis such as an influenza pandemic or a weather-related event which could disrupt business and supply lines.

Continuity planning is the process of planning for “the unexpected”, the “horizon risks”.  These risks “on the horizon” will, hopefully, never materialize. Risk Management must however make reasonable provision for them.  Obviously, the resources devoted to them must be in proportion to the severity of consequences and the perception of likelihood.

Minimise the Disruption

The objective of continuity planning is to enable you to refocus and regroup after an event has climaxed and ‘life returns to normal’.

Achieving Awareness

The key is to have some level of planning in place.  By definition, it is a difficult area for a pharmacy to manage.  A continuity plan may, however, reduce the stresses associated with such a crisis and improve the ability to regroup and rebound.