The Humanitarian Health Evidence Review

Whilst understanding the considerable challenges that exist when carrying out research in this area, there is a need for more high quality evidence with regards to the health systems context of humanitarian crises.

HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING

• There is a need for much more research into some of the specific areas of the health system, particularly the influence of health financing and access to essential medicines during humanitarian crises.

RESILIENCE

• Evidence on the resilience of health systems to absorb crises and on their capacities to continue the delivery of services (e.g. non communicable diseases) after the departure of humanitarian actors.
• There are a number of papers that focus on conflict, but the evidence is weaker for natural disasters. These include the impact of natural disasters on the health system and opportunities arising from natural disasters for areas of the health system.
• There is a need for further research to measure the impact crises can have on local health systems. Integration of services
• Evidence on the effectiveness of different models of delivering health interventions during humanitarian crises: vertical versus integrated humanitarian interventions, facility-based versus community-based interventions, comprehensive package vs. single interventions.

PREPAREDNESS OF CRISES

• There is a clear need for a strong evidence base on the impact of preparedness and whether stronger and better prepared health systems have improved health outcomes following a humanitarian crisis.