Climate change has a significant impact on the population’s health and negatively affects the functioning of healthcare systems. Health systems must be operationally prepared to handle the challenges posed by environmental change. Resilience is required to adapt quickly to critical environmental conditions and reduce carbon emissions. In this systematic review strategies, for health system preparedness and resilience are examined to address the impacts of climate change, and the barriers and challenges faced when implementing them. To identify studies, the Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched three times (from April to October 2024, 21 April, 15 June, and 9 September) for the years 2018 to 2024, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology. Specifically, the search identified 471 articles, of which the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria (secondary studies with inclusion criteria, being in English, etc.) were met by sixteen (16) studies. According to the findings of the studies reviewed, adaptation strategies focus on structural changes, the development of training programs, the development of surveillance systems, and appropriate operational plans. The leader’s ability to motivate employees to achieve defined goals, continuous evaluation of goals and interventions, and learning from previous disasters play an important role in their implementation. Similarly, key policies and strategies for mitigation include the adoption of sustainable practices, such as recycling and cultural change. However, lack of resources (human, material, financial) and increased demand for health services make it difficult to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies. The findings of the review are mainly theoretical in nature and are confirmed by other studies. It is suggested that further research on resilience and preparedness of health systems should be pursued, leading to their sustainability and the formulation of appropriate policies.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, with direct implications for sustainable development, the physical and mental health of populations, and the functioning of health systems. Strengthening the resilience and sustainability of health systems through mitigation and adaptation strategies requires the active involvement of health professionals. This scoping review explores health professionals’ perceptions of climate change and its impacts on public health and health systems, as well as their operational preparedness and the barriers to adaptation. The literature review was conducted in three phases (20 December 2024, 20 January 2025, and 20 March 2025) using the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases, covering the period 2016–2025 and following PRISMA guidelines. Of the 1888 studies initially identified, 36 met the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings showed that while health professionals recognize climate change as a current threat to public health and health systems, they are not adequately prepared to address its impacts. The main barriers to addressing climate change are related to a lack of information and awareness, inadequate training, limited time, lack of supportive leadership, failure to integrate sustainable practices into daily clinical practice and, above all, inadequate funding. Based on these findings, there is an urgent need to develop policies that promote the active participation of health professionals in the design and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. At the same time, there is a need to strengthen research activity through both synchronous and diachronic studies in order to gather information on the sustainability and resilience of health systems.