Building resilient PHC
For everyday care and crisis response
Figure 10 - Artist’s impression of PHC facility concept design.
PHC is the backbone of every health system and the frontline for epidemic detection and climate-related emergencies. Yet, in many resource-constrained settings, PHC infrastructure remains dangerously underprepared. For too long, improvements have been made in silos—one partner funds solar panels, another installs internet connectivity—but without a coherent strategy, agreed minimum standards, or the systems needed to ensure PHC facilities can consistently deliver quality care. This fragmented approach leaves communities vulnerable. Health workers cannot do their jobs without reliable power, clean water, functional sanitation, and basic communications systems. PHC facilities must be equipped not only for routine care but also with the flexibility and structural resilience to continue operating during crises—whether it’s a heatwave, flood, or disease outbreak. Climate change, urbanization, and globalization are amplifying the frequency and complexity of health emergencies. These risks interact and compound one another, placing unprecedented stress on health systems. By taking a user-centered approach to infrastructure design and aligning clinical best practices with climate-resilient infrastructure standards, we can ensure PHC facilities are equipped to withstand a wide range of threats while maintaining essential services. We must do better. Now is the time to align funding, coordinate across sectors, and commit to minimum infrastructure standards that protect essential health services, no matter the crisis.
This will require a new approach—one that embraces innovation, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in building forward better. We urge national governments to embed resilience into health and infrastructure planning. We call on donors to support integrated, scalable investments and help countries learn from what works. And we encourage facility leaders and communities to co-design and implement local solutions. Only through integrated action can we build PHC systems that are prepared, equitable, and truly resilient. We welcome your reflections on these recommendations and encourage you to share whether they resonate with your in-country experience.
Do they align with the challenges and priorities you face in building climate-resilient health systems? Are there critical gaps or opportunities we may have overlooked?