Protection against the coronavirus – From the perspective of the hospital command system

Abstract

The diseases caused by the COVID-19 virus, identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 forced Hungary to take a series of precautionary measures and to take decisive, planned actions and protection. In order to strengthen the hospitals, in the framework of the protection against the coronavirus epidemic, the Government of Hungary established the temporary institution of hospital commanders, by appointing 1-1 hospital commanders and hospital assistants (logisticians) from the staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces, the Disaster Management Authority and the Police. Hospital commanders began their duties based on the prime minister’s commission, hospital directors were required to implement the proposals of the hospital commanders to comply with the rules related to the epidemic risk and to preserve the health stock. The aim of the study is to describe the operation of the previously unknown and unique hospital command system, the responsibilities of hospital commanders in relation to the protection of medical supplies, and to place the hospital command body in the system of management and cooperation with other bodies.