Assessing health system sustainability and resilience: reporting on the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR)

This chapter provides an account of the work of the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR), a cross-sectoral partnership launched in 2020 to undertake research on the sustainability and resilience of health systems worldwide. PHSSR’s network of researchers has produced assessments of the health systems of 20 countries and regions, critically evaluating each and formulating preliminary recommendations to enhance their resilience and sustainability. The chapter discusses the PHSSR’s theoretical framework for understanding sustainability and resilience of health systems, particularly in the context of challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. The methodology and approach employed to assess these dimensions are outlined, alongside a synthesis of the PHSSR’s key findings. The chapter examines pivotal determinants that influence health system performance, encompassing governance structures, financial mechanisms, workforce dynamics, service delivery models, and environmental sustainability. In concluding, the chapter reflects on the lessons learned from this multi-country research initiative, the iterative development of assessment methodologies, and PHSSR’s next steps in contributing to the discourse on health system sustainability and resilience.