Special attention must be given to ensuring the physical and functional integrity of health hospitals and facilities in emergency conditions. This is about more than just protecting buildings. Health facilities are only truly safe from disasters when they are accessible and functioning, at maximum capacity, immediately after a hazard strikes.

Three main goals of the safe hospitals’ policy that should be achieve are:

1. Protect the lives of patients and health workers by ensuring the structural resilience of health facilities;

2. Make sure health facilities and health services are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters - when they are most needed; and

3. Improve the risk reduction capacity of health workers and institutions, including emergency management.