One of the key problems in todays health system is to get the drugs, vaccines, and other forms of prevention care or treatment to those who need them on time, reliably, in sufficient quantity, and at reasonable cost. This could greatly enhance the prevention and cure of much of world's diseases. This inadequacy in the health system is acting as a barrier for achieving internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) and goals set in the WHO / UNICEF Global Immunization Vision and Strategy ( GIVS ). To respond to this challenge, the GAVI Alliance Board is investing US $ 500 million for health system strengthening ( HSS ) between 2006 and 2010. Based on the results, the investment might be extended to 2015.
Health system strengthening would involve improving the following critical components:
1. Stewardship / governance / leadership :defining sector strategies, clarifying roles, managing competing demands.
2. Health financing : ensuring fair and sustainablefinancing, including financial protection.
3. Human resources : having a sufficient and productive workforce.
4. Information and knowledge : ensuring the generation and use of information.
5. Technology and infrastructure : ensuring adequate drugs, equipment, infrastructure.
6. Service delivery : improving organisation, management, and quality of services
Source: "Health System Strengthening," GAVI Alliance (www.gavialliance.org)
2 responses to “Strengthening the Health System”
Thanks for sharing this.
In my opinion “Information and Knowledge” is the most important part of this improvement. In developing countries like India, according to the Census of India 2000, there are only 250m completely healthy people out of 1b+. Remaining ~800m are having one or the other disease.
Moreover there are only 2.3m doctors in India. This is including Allopathy, Homeopathic and Ayurvedic doctors. There is no way they can treat a population of 800m.
The only way out is “Information and Knowledge”. Knowledge about prevention of diseases, healthy lifestyle etc. Without knowledge event the 2015 deadline is not achievable.
Thanks, Pankaj. I agree that information and knowledge are key. The other issue is that of making the “last-mile” of health delivery efficient and effective.