Crisis management in government-funded healthcare facilities: Evaluation of flood preparedness in Greece
TL;DR
In order to enhance the resilience of the healthcare system to climate-related disasters, it is essential to strengthen institutional resilience through systematic preparedness measures, targeted training, dedicated funding, and improved inter-organizational collaboration.
Abstract
Floods, which are among the most frequent and destructive climate-related hazards, exert increasing pressure on healthcare systems and jeopardize the continued provision of essential medical services (Farley et al., 2017). This study evaluates the level of flood preparedness among government-funded healthcare facilities in Greece, following the impact of Storm Daniel in September 2023. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 22 public health care facilities (response rate: 68.8 percent) between January 2024 and May 2024 using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed to assess organizational preparedness, infrastructure resilience, funding mechanisms, communication processes and workforce readiness. The findings reveal substantial preparedness deficiencies. Just over a third of facilities (36.3 percent) reported having an emergency preparedness plan, and less than half of these had personnel trained in disaster management within the previous five years. They reported delays in the provision of medical supplies and equipment, infrequent communication with regional health authorities and a lack of dedicated emergency funding. The study highlights critical gaps in preparedness planning, governance, coordination and workforce capacity. In order to enhance the resilience of the healthcare system to climate-related disasters, it is essential to strengthen institutional resilience through systematic preparedness measures, targeted training, dedicated funding, and improved inter-organizational collaboration.