Healthcare systems face dynamic and compounding shocks that are expected to increase with the impact of climate change, especially in many low- to middle-income countries. For instance, throughout 2020, the Philippines’ health system battled compounding shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic and natural hazards, particularly tropical cyclones, which threatened to compromise the health system’s ability to provide critical care. Increased interdependencies of lifeline infrastructure systems, growing exposure to natural shocks, and socio-economic and demographic trends are magnifying pressures on healthcare systems. Despite their increased exposure to multiple shocks, health systems remain on the frontline of emergency response by continuing to deliver critical lifesaving services, meeting surges in immediate healthcare needs, and providing guidance on public health priorities during these crises. To respond to such demands, it is critical to enhance the integrated resilience of health systems against multiple shocks, harmonizing resilience actions initiated by health and other sectors such as water, energy, communication, transport sectors, which constitutes the lifeline infrastructure that health systems rely on.
