From Crisis To Strategy: Mainstreaming Climate Risk In Health Systems Planning

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Health Systems Science

Background:

• Climate change presents a significant and escalating threat to global healthcare systems, revealing vulnerabilities in infrastructure, workforce, and governance.
• Climate risk, a complex interplay of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, shares similarities with but also differs from other systemic risks healthcare must address.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel risk-based framework for healthcare systems to manage climate change impacts.
• To integrate disaster risk management principles with health systems thinking to develop effective adaptation strategies.
• To link climate risk reduction efforts with the broader goals of achieving health equity.

Main Methods:

• Developing a risk-based framework by synthesizing disaster risk management and health systems thinking.
• Analyzing upstream determinants of climate risk, including intersectoral environments and socio-environmental vulnerabilities.
• Examining how established health sector tools can be adapted for climate risk management.

Main Results:

• The proposed framework facilitates a shift from reactive crisis management to proactive, risk-informed planning within healthcare.
• Understanding upstream determinants and vulnerabilities is crucial for mitigating amplified health impacts of climate change.
• Existing tools like strategic investment, workforce planning, and emergency preparedness are adaptable for climate risk management.

Conclusions:

• Framing climate change as a systemic risk encourages its integration into routine policy and planning.
• Proactive, risk-informed strategies strengthen healthcare system performance and resilience against climate change.
• Addressing climate risk is integral to advancing health equity and ensuring robust healthcare delivery.