Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative

The Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) aims to enhance local capacity to provide high-quality emergency and critical care. This will contribute to the universal health coverage agenda, and enhance preparedness and response capability for health emergencies. The program operates through three geographic streams: Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the broader Pacific, utilising Fiji as a regional hub. It will be delivered by a consortium of organisations, led by Alfred Health in Melbourne, Australia. The program’s academic partner is Monash University. Technical partners are the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society and National Critical Care & Trauma Response Centre. Implementing partners are Menzies School of Health Research (Timor Leste stream), St. John Ambulance Papua New Guinea (PNG stream) and the Pacific Community (Fiji/Pacific regional stream). RECSI is focussed on four thematic areas: enhancing workforce capacity and training, streamlining systems and processes, elevating data and research capabilities, and advancing leadership and governance standards. The consortium will work in close collaboration with local stakeholders, including clinicians, health services and governments, to implement the RECSI work plan. The program will seek to address lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to the importance of resilient health systems with scalable emergency and critical care capacity. The RECSI program is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region intiative.