Health systems resilience during COVID-19: lessons for building back better

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has created huge challenges. The lessons it has generated on preparing for future pandemics are clear but they are by no means the only learning. All health systems are vulnerable and there are practical steps that all countries can take, not simply to increase the resources available, but to ensure the capacity to mobilize, adapt and use those resources in different shock scenarios. The Health systems resilience during COVID-19 Lessons for building back better study gathers the evidence of how countries have managed (or not managed) to re-engineer what they do, who does what and how, and draws out the implications for future resilience. The study understands resilience as the ability of the health system to prepare for, manage and learn from a sudden and extreme disturbance. It is about maintaining the performance of core heath system functions. While the focus here is on responding to shock, it is increasingly evident that the ability to transform and evolve will also be critical in meeting long-term structural challenges to health systems.