Health Dept. activates emergency center to support hospitals, CDTs, ‘330’ centers amid drought

By THE STAR STAFF

Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero announced on Wednesday that he has activated the agency’s Emergency Operations Center to coordinate service continuity with hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers (CDTs), and “330” primary health centers during the drought emergency.

“The Puerto Rico Department of Health’s Emergency Operations Plan serves as the guiding document for implementing actions in response to emergencies and disasters that impact public health systems, medical services, and mental health in Puerto Rico,” Ramos Otero said in a written statement. “The plan establishes the necessary guidelines and tools to achieve local and state-level preparedness and to develop an adequate response before, during, and after an emergency.” 

The activation was formalized through Administrative Order 2026-647, signed on Monday. The plan encompasses the Health Department’s central offices and its seven regions.

An Emergency Operations Committee was also established; it is chaired by Ramos Otero and composed of officials from the areas of epidemiology, medicine, administration, public health response, communications and legal counsel, among other divisions.

Representatives from hospitals, “330” centers, and other medical facilities participated in a meeting convened by the agency to review the availability of water, cisterns, generators, and supplies, as well as operational continuity protocols.

“As health service administrators, we have an essential responsibility to ensure service continuity during any emergency,” stated Health Service Administrators Association President Tania Conde. “Activating the Department of Health’s Emergency Operations Plan allows us to strengthen coordination and proactively review our operational plans -- particularly regarding the availability of water, cisterns, generators, and supplies, as well as the protocols needed to maintain clinical services and protect patient safety.”

The coordination also encompasses primary care physician groups, mental health and rehabilitation centers, long-term care units, hospices, home health agencies, dialysis facilities, emergency rooms, and ambulatory surgery centers.