The global pool of simulation exercise materials in health emergency preparedness and response: a scoping review with a health system perspective

McDarby, Geraldine; Reynolds, Lindy; Zibwowa, Zandile; Syed, Shams; Kelley, Ed; Saikat, Sohel

An integrated approach to SimEx including health security, emergency preparedness and health systems is required to address the gap identified by this review. As a result of these findings, an off-the-shelf SimEx package that addresses health system aspects within the context of response to a PHE is being developed, which will be freely available for all countries, particularly low-income countries. This could be further supported through the cross involvement in ongoing exercises and after-action reviews to enhance connectivity and support the development of shared ownership of improvement recommendations. These new-generation SimEx materials could be collated in a global repository that could be accessed by national authorities. Such a collaborative approach would allow the leveraging of the considerable expertise in SimEx present within health security and emergency preparedness sectors. Lessons learnt from this integrated approach will allow health systems to be built better, function better, which will ultimately lead to the protection and improvement of human life.