Continuity of essential health services: Facility assessment tool

Interim guidance. 12 May 2021. The Continuity of essential health services: Facility Assessment Tool can be used by countries to rapidly assess the capacity of health facilities to maintain the provision of essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can help to alert the authorities and other stakeholders about where service delivery and utilization may require modification and/or investment. This assessment tool covers the following aspects of essential health services: health workforce (numbers, absences, COVID-19 infections, health workforce management, training and support); financial management and barriers; service delivery and utilization (facility closures, changes in service delivery, community communication campaigns, changes in service utilization and catch-up strategies); IPC capacities (protocols, safety measures, guidelines and the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff); availability of therapeutics, diagnostics and supplies, and vaccine readiness; and provision of COVID-19 primary care services.