This study aims to assess the public healthcare system by implementing a scorecard in Hatay and Kahramanmaras provinces in Türkiye after the Kahmaranmaras earthquake.

The methodology employing in this study, action research, informs the active interaction between participants who have been involved in disaster risk reduction in the variety of capacities, such as affected local government, emergency medicine department, nursing and care association.

The scorecard application was carried out with 18 participants in Maraş and 22 in Hatay. The scorecard application shows that the items with the lowest scores in Hatay were related to the resilience of public health infrastructure and key health facilities, and the fulfilment of society’s role in disasters. In Maraş, on the other hand, coping with patient surge in disaster, fulfilment of society’s role in disasters, and mental health services in the context of disasters.

With the participation in scorecard workshop, communications between these stakeholders for community public healthcare system can discuss the best way to prepare and collaborate to promote further community disaster risk reduction planning during post-disaster recovery phase.

The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes struck the north-eastern part of Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023. It is well known that timely coordination and provision of emergency medical care in the field is particularly important to save lives after earthquakes. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by medical responders on the ground.

This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted in Hatay, the province most affected by the earthquakes. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and field observations, and then analyzed using thematic analysis approach.

The study was carried out with 15 first responders from the medical profession. The study revealed 9 themes of challenges faced by medical responders: providing safety and security, human resources management, meeting personal needs, recording data, communication, patient transport, burial procedures, psychological acumen, and logistical problems. Some problems were resolved after 72 h and some continued until day 7.

Inadequate organization of volunteer health workers, communication breakdowns, and logistical problems are some of the main challenges. To address these issues, satellite phones and radio systems can be promoted, as well as disaster-resilient logistical planning and better coordination of volunteers.

The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize strategies for strengthening public health system resilience for pandemics, disasters, and other emergencies using a scorecard approach.

The United Nations Public Health System Resilience Scorecard (Scorecard) was applied across 5 workshops in Slovenia, Turkey, and the United States of America. The workshops focused on participants reviewing and discussing 23 questions/indicators. A Likert type scale was used for scoring with zero being the lowest and 5 the highest. The workshop scores were analyzed and discussed by participants to prioritize areas of need and develop resilience strategies. Data from all workshops were aggregated, analyzed, and interpreted to develop priorities representative of participating locations.

Eight themes emerged representing the need for better integration of public health and disaster management systems. These include: assessing community disease burden; embedding long-term recovery groups in emergency systems; exploring mental health care needs; examining ecosystem risks; evaluating reserve funds; identifying what crisis communication strategies worked well; providing non-medical services; and reviewing resilience of existing facilities, alternate care sites, and institutions.

The Scorecard is an effective tool for establishing baseline resilience and prioritizing actions. The strategies identified reflect areas in most need for investment to improve public health system resilience.