Health Systems Strengthening

The World Health Organization’s 2000 World Health Report defined the functions of a health system. Since then, there has been global consensus that these “six building blocks” make up the core functions of a working health system, which are essential to improving health outcomes. The six building blocks are (WHO 2007):

  • Service Delivery. Good health services are those which deliver effective, safe, quality health interventions to those that need them, when and where needed, with minimum waste of resources.
  • Health Workforce. A well-performing health workforce is one that works in ways that are responsive, fair and efficient to achieve the best health outcomes possible, given available resources and circumstances.
  • Health Information. A well-functioning health information system is one that ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health system performance and health status.
  • Medical Products, Vaccines and Technologies. A well-functioning health system ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, and their scientifically sound and cost-effective use.
  • Financing. A good health financing system raises adequate funds for health, in ways that ensure people can use needed services, and are protected from financial catastrophe or impoverishment associated with having to pay for them.
  • Leadership and Governance. Leadership and governance involves ensuring strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight, coalition building, regulation, attention to system-design and accountability.

Health system strengthening involves improving these building blocks and managing their interactions in ways that achieve more equitable and sustained improvements across health services and health outcomes (WHO 2007). The resources included in this section of the Haiti Relief Toolkit focus on the building blocks defined by the World Health Organization.
 

The Interagency Emergency Health Kit
2006 | World Health Organization [WHO] | 88 p
English
This document provides background information on the composition and use of the emergency health kit. Chapter 1 describes supply needs in emergency situations and is intended as a general introduction for health administrators and field officers. Chapter 2 explains the selection of medicines and medical devices ‐ renewable and equipment ‐ which are included in the kit and also provides more technical details intended for prescribers. Chapter 3 describes the composition of the kit, consisting of the basic and complementary units.
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Interpreting and using mortality data in humanitarian emergencies: A primer for non-epidemiologists
2005 | Humanitarian Practice Network | 44 p
English
This Network Paper describes the practice and purpose of that branch of epidemiology concerned with population mortality. It sets out the key indicators used to express mortality data, different options for how to measure mortality rates and suggestions for how to assess, interpret and use mortality reports. The paper also discusses the politics of mortality figures.
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Health Actions First Draft
. | Sphere Project | 73 p
English
This chapter is divided into two main sections: Health Systems and Essential Health Services. The organisation of the chapter promotes a systems approach to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health services during an emergency or crisis. This is the best approach for, and a prerequisite to ensuring that priority health needs are identified and met in an efficient and effective manner. Principles such as supporting national and local health systems, coordination and standardisation of tools and approaches are stressed throughout.
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Organization of Medical Services
Pan American Health Organization [PAHO]
Organization of Medical Services (English) |
Organización de los servicios médicos (Spanish)
The organization of medical services, will depend on the type of the disaster, its magnitude, and its location. The structure of the system of health existing in the country and in the region should be taken into account so that the available resources are used advantage of well, before requesting reinforcements.
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General Health Systems Strengthening Resources (4 resources)

    Medical Products, Vaccines, and Technologies (10 resources)

      Health Workforce (3 resources)

        Service Delivery (6 resources)

          Health Information Systems (3 resources)

            Financing (1 resources)