Resilient and responsive health systems in a changing world

The world is amidst one of its greatest public health challenges due to the tragic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. We have witnessed the extreme strains on health systems but also their resilience and responsiveness to the pressures they have faced. We must also recognize that it is not only COVID-19 that has put a strain on health systems. Other infectious diseases, economic pressures, environmental disasters, staff shortages, and chronic diseases are amongst the many other challenges health systems are facing. 

In support of the challenges that global health systems are facing and UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, BMC Health Services Research has launched a collection that welcomes submissions that contribute to our understanding of how health systems respond and resist the pressures they face, and how we can sustainably strengthen health systems for the future. 

For more information about the scope of the collection, please read our introductory commentary article written by our Guest Editors. 

Prof. Siri Wiig, University of Stavanger, Norway

Siri Wiig, PhD, MSc, is Professor and Centre Director at SHARE - Centre for Resilience in Healthcare, at the University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway. The SHARE centre is a large research group in Norway doing research on quality and safety in healthcare, with over 70 researchers affiliated. Wiig is a full Professor of Quality and Safety in Healthcare Systems at the Faculty of Health Sciences, UiS. Key research interests are resilience in healthcare, patient safety, quality improvement, safety investigations, user involvement, risk regulation, leadership, and learning in socio-technical systems.

Prof. Jane K. O'Hara, University of Leeds, UK

Jane K. O'Hara is a Professor of Healthcare Quality & Safety, based at the University of Leeds, and Deputy Director of the Yorkshire Quality & Safety Research Group. Her research interests include resilient healthcare, exploring and operationalizing safety theories, safety measurement and management, and patient and family involvement in patient safety.

This collection welcomes submissions of Research articles, including systematic reviews, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research on the topic of resilience and responsiveness in all areas of the health system. Reviews, Study Protocols, and Comments will be considered at the discretion of the Journal’s Editor. Please note that unsolicited Reviews and Comments will not be considered, as per our submission guidelines. 

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process overseen by our Guest Editors, Prof. Siri Wiig (University of Stavanger, Norway) and Prof. Jane O’Hara (University of Leeds, UK). Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have carefully read the submission guidelines for BMC Health Services Research. Please ensure you highlight in your cover letter that you are submitting to a collection. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Resilient and responsive health systems in a changing world" from the dropdown menu".

Please visit this page to find out more about our article-processing charges. Members of Health Systems Global can claim a 20% discount on our article-processing charges, more information can be found here.

Articles submitted after 31st January 2023 will not be eligible for inclusion in the collection.