Commentary

What do we really mean by health-system resilience?

The term is useful only when it leads to explicit choices about equity, continuity, and adaptation.

Omar Al-Khatib Affiliations & notes a Frontline Learning Network Dr Sarah Bennett Affiliations & notes b HSRC Research Programme
Affiliations & notes
  • a Frontline Learning Network
  • b HSRC Research Programme
Publication date: 29 September 2026 DOI: 10.5555/hsrc.en.commentary.001
What do we really mean by health-system resilience?
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Abstract

A critical commentary on using resilience language without specifying who benefits or how success is measured.

Full text

Resilience now appears throughout health policy, but it risks becoming an empty label.

Resilience for whom?

Every plan should ask who carries the cost of adaptation and who may lose access to care.

Measure continuity and equity

Assessment must go beyond institutional survival to examine whether vulnerable patients can still receive services.

References

  1. Review of health-system resilience concepts.
  2. HSRC. Equity in crisis response.

Citation information

Al-Khatib O, Bennett S. What do we really mean by health-system resilience? HSRC. 2026.

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Discussion

Demo Reader

A useful contribution. Thank you for sharing this experience.