Session 24

Strengthening health systems resilience by exploring recent responses to migration

A resilience testing and policy tool

Organised by European Health Forum Gastein & European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Resilience is the ability to respond to challenges - foreseen and unforeseen. Resilient health systems spot and absorb shocks and above all adapt to them. They maintain delivery of care during periods of change and learn to be better prepared for the future.

The recent influx of Ukrainian migrants has tested the resilience of health systems in many European countries and highlighted their underlying weaknesses.

This session will use the migration lens to better understand health system resilience and to highlight how the resilience testing approach initiated by DG SANTE can help countries identify issues and take remedial action. Panellists and member of the audience will share their insights into the ways Europe’s health systems have met migration challenges and draw lessons for systems overall. Our discussions will begin the process of identifying indicators that policy-makers can use to ensure their health systems are prepared to deal with sudden influxes of migrants. It will also flag how resilience testing can be a crucial tool for gathering intelligence, building coalitions, and creating actionable strategies to meet everyday challenges.