Project Details

A Hot Time for Social Health Protection: SHP facing Climate Change. HoT-SHP

Duration: 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2026
Research Team:

Prof. Dr. Khalid Rehman (Projektleitung), Khyber Medical University, Peshawar;

 

Prof. Dr. Zohaib Khan, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar;

 

Prof. Dr. Andreas Landmann, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg;

 

Prof. Dr. Manuela De Allegri, Universität Heidelberg;

 

Prof. Dr. Melanie Boeckmann, Universität Bremen;

 
Project Partner: Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan; Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg; Universität Heidelberg; Universität Bremen
Project Type: Third-party funded project
Funding: Health Research Institute, Pakistan

Description

Background

Climate change affects health both directly and indirectly and is considered a defining issue of the 21st century. In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, people face health risks from extreme weather events such as heatwaves and floods. A government-sponsored inpatient social health protection program is already in place and is expanding to include outpatient coverage for low-income populations in Mardan. However, there is a lack of evidence on how social health protection functions amid climate challenges.

 

Project Aim

The project aims to assess the health and economic burden induced by extreme weather events and to evaluate the effectiveness of outpatient social health protection schemes in enhancing resilience among vulnerable groups during heatwaves.

 

Methods and Approach

 

Health and Economic Analysis: Reconstruct health data to quantify the burden from extreme weather.

Effectiveness of Protective Measures: Estimate the impact of the SHP-PHC scheme on healthcare access and vulnerability before and after extreme heat events.

Co-design of Warning Messages: Develop and evaluate behavior-change messages during extreme heat events.

 

Expected Outcomes

The project will provide insights into the health and economic impacts of climate change and offer policy recommendations to strengthen social health protection.