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Violence against healthcare workers as a signal of health system strain: Implications for health policy and governance

Author

Listed:
  • Boyer, Laurent
  • Postzich, Martin
  • Llorca, Pierre-Michel
  • Pauly, Vanessa
  • Zhang, Shiqing
  • Blanc, Julie
  • Boussat, Bastien
  • Duclos, Antoine

Abstract

Violence against healthcare workers has prompted policy responses across health systems that often emphasise security measures, legal sanctions, and behavioural interventions. While these approaches are essential to protect healthcare workers, their effectiveness remains limited. This Policy Comment argues that such framing may underemphasise determinants of violence arising at multiple levels of health systems, including broader policy choices (e.g., workforce planning, financing, and service configuration), governance arrangements (e.g., performance monitoring, administrative control, and regulatory standards), and organisational conditions (e.g., staffing shortages, workload, and care pathway bottlenecks), within a context influenced by international policy frameworks and societal factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Boyer, Laurent & Postzich, Martin & Llorca, Pierre-Michel & Pauly, Vanessa & Zhang, Shiqing & Blanc, Julie & Boussat, Bastien & Duclos, Antoine, 2026. "Violence against healthcare workers as a signal of health system strain: Implications for health policy and governance," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:170:y:2026:i:c:s0168851026000758
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105638
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