People have equal access to effective, safe and quality health services that are standardised and follow accepted protocols and guidelines.

• Provide health services at the appropriate level of the health system. Levels include household and community, clinic or health post, health centre and hospital
• Adapt or establish standardised case management protocols for the most common diseases, taking account of national standards and guidelines
• Establish or strengthen a standardised referral system and ensure it is utilised by all agencies (see guidance note 1).
• Establish or strengthen a standardised system of triage at all health facilities to ensure those with emergency signs receive immediate treatment.
• Initiate health education and promotion at community and health facility levels
• Establish and follow safe and rational use of blood supply and blood products
• Ensure that laboratory services are available and used when indicated
• Avoid the establishment of alternative or parallel health services, including mobile clinics and field hospitals
• Design health services in a manner that ensures patients’ rights to privacy, confidentiality and informed consent
• Implement appropriate waste management procedures, safety measures and infection control methods in health facilities (see guidance notes 10–11, and Solid waste management standard 1).
• Dispose of dead bodies in a manner that is dignified, culturally appropriate and based on good public health practice(see guidance note 12 and Solid waste management standard 1,

Key indicators (to be read in conjunction with the guidance notes)

• ere are an adequate number of health facilities to meet the essential health needs of all the disaster-affected