Business continuity planning and pandemic influenza in Europe: A thematic analysis of independent sector and national governments’ guidance

Most strategic and operational efforts to prepare for pandemic influenza have been directed towards building resilience in public health systems and overlook the challenge of ensuring business continuity in public and independent sector organisations and institutions outside the health sector. This report explores the breadth and depth of advice currently offered to the European non-health sector. It describes independent advisory organisations and the national strategic plans of the 27 European Union member states, plus Turkey, Norway and Switzerland. It uses an analytical framework based on ‘areas’ of preparedness that emerged from the guidelines, and which encompass relatively broad conceptual issues, and ‘themes’ which capture more detailed issues covered in each area. The study identifies nine areas of preparedness and 65 themes across both sectors. It shows that substantial gaps, incoherence and inconsistencies exist in the guidance offered. Substantial challenges and opportunities remain for governments to improve the advice they provide to the non-health sector. Advisory organisations also need to improve the advice they offer to the non-health sector and ensure that it is coherent with government advice.