Ready for the Next Crisis? Investing in Health System Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic had massive consequences for societies and health systems across the OECD and beyond. Health systems were not resilient enough. Resilient health systems plan and are ready for shocks, such as pandemics, economic crises or the effects of climate change. They are able to minimise the negative consequences of crises, recover as quickly as possible, and adapt to become better performing and more prepared. Smart, targeted investments in health system resilience are needed to improve health and ensure the next shock is less disruptive and costly. This report reviews the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic and applies them to build policy recommendations to ensure the global community is ready for the next crisis. The reviews and recommendations cover health system issues – including workforce, digitalisation, continuity of care and mental health – and other topics, including long-term care, supply chains and international co-operation.
Investigating resilience in other sectors
Although relatively new to health systems, the resilience methodology has decades of application in other fields. This chapter outlines the common features of resilience across various sectors. It discusses how resilience has been applied in infrastructure, finance, the environment, cybersecurity, disaster response, and medicine and public health. Common features and lessons for health systems, and common methods of testing for resilience are identified. Improving health system resilience should use the lessons learnt from its application in other sectors, with a focus on systems adapting to shocks and an emphasis on a multi-systems view.