Health System Resilience Extends Beyond Medical Infrastructure
Health System Resilience Extends Beyond Medical Infrastructure
Dr. Elham Ghanatpisheh, a faculty member at the Health in Emergency and Disaster Research Center of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, stated that increasing medical infrastructure alone does not guarantee health system resilience. She emphasized that identifying community vulnerabilities, fostering social participation, and prioritizing health equity play decisive roles in effective crisis management.
According to a report by Web Day University's correspondent, Dr. Elham Ghanatpisheh, while elucidating the concept of health system resilience, noted: Recent developments—ranging from natural disasters and pandemics to complex human-made crises—have demonstrated that resilience cannot be achieved solely by expanding medical facilities or developing physical infrastructure. Resilience truly manifests when a health system can accurately identify community vulnerabilities, learn from past crises, strengthen human and social capacities, and ensure that services are distributed equitably across all population groups.
Pointing out that existing inequalities and vulnerabilities within a society become more pronounced during any crisis, she added: The elderly, children, persons with disabilities, patients with chronic illnesses, and underprivileged groups are disproportionately affected by the consequences of a crisis. Therefore, scientific crisis management will remain ineffective without a precise understanding of these groups and the design of interventions tailored to their specific needs.
Dr. Ghanatpisheh regarded the lessons learned from crises as invaluable assets for reducing vulnerability, stating: Every incident provides an opportunity to review policies, enhance intersectoral coordination, and rectify inefficient structures. When past experiences are systematically analyzed and integrated into the decision-making process, they can prevent the recurrence of errors and bolster future preparedness.
The Health System Must Be Prepared Prior to the Occurrence of a Crisis
Emphasizing the central role of capacity building in this process, she said: Capacity building entails strengthening specialized knowledge, management skills, information systems, service infrastructures, and social cooperation networks. The health system must be prepared before a crisis occurs; this readiness is forged through continuous training, practicing potential scenarios, and developing intersectoral collaborations.
The faculty member at the Center for Health Research in Disasters and Hazards also identified social participation as a fundamental pillar of resilience, stating: Global experiences show that societies where local people and institutions actively participate in the preparation and response processes demonstrate more cohesive and effective performance. Social participation not only aids in better identifying vulnerabilities but also increases public trust and the efficacy of decisions.
The University's Emphasis on Health Equity, Social Health, Rehabilitation, and Support for Vulnerable Groups
Dr. Ghanatpisheh described the strategic approach of university within this framework, adding: By emphasizing health equity, social health, rehabilitation, and the support of vulnerable groups, this university offers a comprehensive, human-centered perspective on health system resilience. This approach goes beyond mere clinical treatment to encompass the social, psychological, and rehabilitative dimensions of health. The university’s role in generating applied knowledge, training specialized human resources, and developing evidence-based policies in the field of disaster risk management can significantly strengthen national preparedness against crises. The link between research, education, and the actual needs of society provides the foundation for transforming crisis experiences into practical and sustainable solutions.
She concluded: Health system resilience is the result of synergy between several factors: accurate identification of vulnerabilities, leveraging lessons learned, continuous capacity building, social participation, and the establishment of health equity. Strengthening these components particularly through the social and human-centered approach of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences can render the health system more resilient, cohesive, and efficient in the face of future crises.
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