Malaysia first to pilot WHO toolkit on climate-resilient health facilities

As climate change intensifies and emergencies grow more complex, ensuring that health facilities remain safe, functional and responsive is no longer optional, it is essential.

Across Malaysia like many countries in the Western Pacific Region, communities are increasingly exposed to floods, heatwaves, haze and disease outbreaks. Health facilities—often the first line of defence—can also be among the most vulnerable, facing infrastructure strain, workforce pressures and disruptions to essential services.

To support countries in strengthening health facility resilience, WHO, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, has developed a consolidated tool: the Climate and Emergency Adapted for Readiness (CLEAR+) toolkit—a practical, health systems-oriented approach that assesses readiness across emergency preparedness, climate adaptation and structural safety.

In Malaysia, the CLEAR+ toolkit has been adapted and implemented as the Malaysia Resilient Healthcare Facilities (MyReHF) initiative.

_{Participants from MOH Malaysia, WHO and partner agencies came together at the MyReHF technical workshop to advance climate-resilient and emergency-ready health facilities in Malaysia.}

The three-day technical workshop and field testing, held in Putrajaya and selected health facilities, mark an important milestone in strengthening climate-resilient health systems in Malaysia and across the Region.

A unified approach to safety, preparedness and climate resilience-

Building resilient health facilities requires more than emergency response. It calls for integrated planning that addresses both immediate risks and long-term climate challenges.

The toolkit brings together three existing WHO tools into a single, streamlined assessment:

• the Hospital Safety Index
• the Climate-Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Health Care Facilities framework
• WASH-FIT (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Facility Improvement Tool)

It covers six core areas: emergency management, health workforce, service continuity, WASH, infrastructure and sustainability.

_{Participants engage in technical discussions on integrating emergency readiness and climate resilience into health facility assessments.}

By reducing duplication and aligning with national systems, the toolkit is designed to be practical, user-friendly and action-oriented.

Testing the toolkit in real-world settings

A key feature of the Malaysia pilot is its strong emphasis on field testing and real-world usability.

Following technical sessions in Putrajaya, multidisciplinary teams conducted on-site assessments at Hospital Banting in Selangor and Klinik Kesihatan Seremban 2 in Negeri Sembilan—representing both hospital and primary care settings.

_{Site visits to health facilities were carried out to test real-world readiness for climate and emergency risks under Malaysia’s pilot of the WHO integrated toolkit.}

The findings will be used to further refine the toolkit before wider roll-out, ensuring that it is fit for purpose and adaptable across different types of health facilities.

_{Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe highlights the importance of climate-resilient health systems during the workshop.}

“Climate change and emergencies are no longer future risks—they are already shaping how health systems operate today,” said Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

“By piloting this integrated toolkit, Malaysia is taking a proactive and evidence-based step to protect health facilities, safeguard health workers, and ensure communities continue to receive care when they need it most.”

A milestone for Malaysia and the Region

The Malaysia pilot marks the first implementation of this consolidated toolkit in the Western Pacific Region, reflecting the country’s leadership in advancing climate-resilient and emergency-ready health systems.

While grounded in national priorities, the initiative contributes to broader regional and global commitments, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the World Health Assembly resolution on climate change and health. It also aligns with WHO’s vision for the Western Pacific — Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies.

Lessons from Malaysia will inform further refinement and adaptation of the toolkit across countries in the Region, supporting more coordinated approaches to strengthening health facility resilience.

As Malaysia moves towards national roll-out, the MyReHF toolkit represents more than an assessment tool. It is a strategic investment in health system resilience, helping ensure that health facilities remain safe, sustainable and capable of delivering care before, during and after emergencies.

By leading this effort, Malaysia is helping shape a more climate-resilient future for health systems across the Western Pacific Region.