Analysing health system capacity and preparedness for climate change

Jeffrey Braithwaite (), Elle Leask, Carolynn L. Smith (), Genevieve Dammery, Kalissa Brooke-Cowden, Ann Carrigan, Ella McQuillan, Lauren Ehrenfeld, Enrico Coiera, Johanna Westbrook and Yvonne Zurynski
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Jeffrey Braithwaite: Macquarie University
Elle Leask: Macquarie University
Carolynn L. Smith: Macquarie University
Genevieve Dammery: Macquarie University
Kalissa Brooke-Cowden: Macquarie University
Ann Carrigan: Macquarie University
Ella McQuillan: Macquarie University
Lauren Ehrenfeld: Macquarie University
Johanna Westbrook: Macquarie University
Yvonne Zurynski: Macquarie University

Nature Climate Change, 2024, vol. 14, issue 5, 536-546

Abstract: Abstract While increasing literature demonstrating the direct and indirect impacts of climate change focuses on health, the capacity and preparedness of healthcare systems to deal with these impacts are less frequently considered. Here we performed a systematic analysis of peer-reviewed and grey literature to assess the current and projected coping capacity for healthcare systems under climate change. Data from the 129 included publications focused broadly on seven topics: workforce, tools and frameworks, infrastructure and urban planning, communication, surge capacity and increased system burden, service interruption and financial costs. Publications were biased towards high-level representation of acute disaster events, particularly in Global North countries. Non-peer-reviewed literature such as policy and planning documents, which may offer further insights into preparedness, were under-represented and could be a feature of next-generation research. Health systems need to be future proofed through effective policies, adequately trained workforces and redesigned infrastructure to meet the increasing burdens of climate change.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01994-4

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