The results of this first ever conducted survey of researchers and stakeholders regarding research priorities in mental health suggest that it should be possible to develop consensus at regional and international levels regarding the research agenda that is necessary to support health system objectives in LAMI countries.

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Purpose Resilient health facilities, particularly hospitals, are critical for a responsive local health system in post-disaster settings. The purpose of this paper is to look at the experiences of two hospitals (public and private) in Tacloban City, Philippines in the aftermath of a super typhoon and their respective delivery of health services in such setting. Design/methodology/approach It described the impact of Typhoon Haiyan on health services delivery capacity and the factors instrumental in the resilience of the case hospitals. Lessons learned from the hospitals’ experiences, both at the level of the hospital staff and the institution, were also drawn. Disaster preparedness of case hospitals were assessed along several domains of resilience. Key informant interviews among stakeholders were conducted with key themes on disaster resilience extracted. Findings Disaster preparedness scores for case hospitals were different from each other and were reflected in their experiences of health services delivery in the aftermath of the disaster. Research limitations/implications This study on hospital resilience of two case hospitals, in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, is exploratory in nature. The retrospective design of the study made it prone to recall bias. Further, the use of self-report measures for hospital resilience needs to be validated by more objective measures. The lack of baseline pre-disaster resilience indicators and the unpredictability of disasters could perhaps be addressed by a longitudinal study on hospital resilience in disasters in the future. Originality/value This study revealed several key findings. Some of the themes that emerged were: public health in disaster is the responsibility of both public and private hospitals; need for flexibility in disaster preparedness and planning, disaster resilience is an emergent process not a static construct, chaos results from zeal without coordination, and the need for integration of disaster preparedness in daily processes and structures of hospital facilities.

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The Philippines is prone to a variety of natural calamities. Consequently, the community's health is impacted by many extreme events. This study investigates stakeholders' knowledge and preparedness in the face of major natural events and disasters, health impacts of disasters in the community, and different sectors' response amid extreme events, explicitly flooding, earthquakes, super typhoons, and volcanic eruptions. Data was gathered from four locations through interviews and focus group discussions, and available literature and situation reports. According to the narratives, residents' and local government units' awareness of an impending catastrophic event and disaster preparations are critical. Moreover, community members experienced various immediate, short-term, and long-term health impacts due to various disasters. Therefore, the lessons in this study should be used to improve its preparations, strategies, and protocols.