JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Public health has a pivotal role in strengthening resilience at individual, community and system levels and building healthy communities. During crises, resilient health systems can effectively adapt in response to evolving situations and reduce vulnerability across and beyond the systems.

Objective:

To provide expert viewpoint/perspective on the recent lessons learned on the Health Systems Resilience in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Methods:

Discussion Areas: In a moderated discussion, experts provided their viewpoints on the matter by providing an introduction to health systems resilience, national public health institutes and their role in health systems resilience, the contribution of the health workforce to health system’s resilience with some empirical and personal experiential examples, building resilient health systems and the role of the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETPs), with an example from Yemen FETP experience, and an overall reflection on the matter and lessons learned.

Results:

Continuous support is needed for FETP graduates to work toward strengthening surveillance systems and investigating outbreaks and to participate in regional and global efforts in response to COVID-19.

Conclusions:

Lessons learned from the current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and the response to strengthen both pandemic preparedness and health systems, as well as the importance of investing in the essential public health functions (EPHFs), including those required for all-hazards emergency risk management, and institutionalized mechanisms for whole-of-society engagement, as well as strengthening the primary health care (PHC) approach for health security and universal health coverage (UHC), and promoting enabling environments for research, innovation, and learning.