Health and care workforce preparedness in response to the influx of Ukrainian refugees
A qualitative study from the Czech Republic
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21467571 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Zuzana Kotherová (0000-0002-1214-9879, Charles University, corresponding author), Karolína Dobiášová (0000-0001-9384-1076, Charles University), Jolana Kopsa Těšinová (0000-0001-5998-9763, Institute of Endocrinology), Elena Tulupová (0000-0002-6069-7714, Charles University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 163 |
| Pages | 105495 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0168-8510 • E-ISSN: 1872-6054 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.healthpol.2025.105495 |
| PMID | 41265045 |
| OpenAlex | W4416041582 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
BACKGROUND: Health and care workforces across Europe face overlapping crises that test their resilience and governance capacities. In the Czech Republic, the COVID-19 pandemic was swiftly followed by a major influx of Ukrainian refugees, creating new pressures on both frontline healthcare workers and intercultural care workers. OBJECTIVE: To explore, from the perspectives of frontline healthcare workers and intercultural care workers, how governance capacities and gaps shaped workforce functioning, adaptation, and resilience during the refugee response in the CR, and what lessons this experience offers for strengthening workforce governance in times of multiple crises. METHODS: Thirty semi-structured interviews with frontline healthcare workers and three focus groups with 20 intercultural care workers (September 2022-June 2023) were analysed thematically within a multi-level governance framework. RESULTS: Fragmented coordination, lack of intercultural training, and limited psychosocial and managerial support undermined resilience. Intercultural care workers played critical but unrecognised roles bridging linguistic and cultural gaps, while refugee health workers remained underused due to rigid qualification rules and limited pathways for integration. Despite strong moral commitment and informal collaboration, reliance on individual initiative rather than structured governance weakened equity and preparedness. CONCLUSIONS: Preparedness depends on governance that sustains the human and cultural dimensions of care. Strengthening coordination across levels, formally recognising intercultural roles within health organisations, and enabling refugee health worker integration through flexible qualification procedures are timely and achievable governance priorities for building resilient and inclusive health workforces across Europe
Corporate governance · Czech · Health care · Preparedness · Qualitative research · Refugee · Ukrainian · Workforce · Cultural Competency in Health Care · Global Health Workforce Issues · Migration, Health and Trauma
Migration and health in an increasingly diverse Europe
What do we know about community-based health worker programs? A systematic review of existing reviews on community health workers
Post-Covid health policy responses to healthcare workforce capacities
Professionals' and Intercultural Mediators' Perspectives on Communication With Ukrainian Refugees in the Czech Healthcare System
Culturally Sensitive Care
| Highly cited | No |
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