Lect 1.b THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A HEALTH SYSTEM - notes pp.pptx

HEALTH SERVICE MANAGEMENT

1. THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A HEALTH SYSTEM PHL. 3.

2. Introduction: In 2007, WHO published a framework, commonly known as the “WHO building blocks”, to focus attention on the need to strengthen health systems, and to guide a common conceptual understanding of what constitutes a health system, in order to go about strengthening it. According to this framework, six building blocks constitute a health system . I n other words, there are six essential functions of the health system.

3. Ctn These building blocks are: S ervice delivery; H ealth workforce (human resources); Health i information (data and data systems); M edical products and technologies; Health F inancing; and L eadership and governance (stewardship).

4. Ctn These six building blocks need to be strong to achieve the overall goals of a health system, which are improved health ; responsiveness (that is, how well the system responds to changing health needs or other changes in the system); social and financial risk protection ; and improved efficiency . The i ntermediate goals are access , coverage , quality and safety .

5. Ctn. Uganda employs a health systems strengthening approach benchmarked by the World Health Organization framework of the six building blocks, namely: Leadership and Governance, Healthcare Financing, Health Workforce, Medical Products and Technologies, Information and Research plus Service Delivery. With an emphasis on the district led programming model, health systems strengthening is implemented through a number of programs . e.g EPI, Development partner support, etc.

6. Ctn · Leadership/governance : This aims at new organizational practices and policies, the best use of resources, appropriate use of staff working hour, satisfaction of patients and providers, capacity to assemble and manage resources . Governance structures develop, implement, and monitor the basic legal framework required for effective operation of both public and private health services and protection of patients’ health and rights. Effective governance ensures that standards of care and targets for coverage are set, monitored and maintained and that services are cost effective.

7. Ctn. · Healthcare financing : Managers need to ensure efficient and effective healthcare financing system, linkage of financial mobilization with evidence-based plan, effective budget consumption, the required financial resources to ensure sustainability, and reduced wastage and enhanced cost-effective interventions . Finances for health services are generated, pooled, allocated, and managed to ensure equitable access to care at all income levels. Strong health systems use resources appropriately and wisely to incentivize better performance of health workers and health institutions.

8. Ctn. · Health workforce : Management needs to recruit qualified staff, ensure job satisfaction, staff motivation, conducive structure and have an appropriate and timely feedback to staff. H uman resources should be sufficient in number and effectively trained, deployed, supervised, and supported. Providers are licensed and motivated and incentivized to deliver the highest quality of care possible to targeted populations so that opportunities for care are not lost.

9. Ctn. · Medical products/technologies : adequate drugs, medical supplies, medical apparatuses and equipment, up-to-date technologies for patient diagnosis, new organizational practices and policies, networking with the external environment . As management there is need to strengthen efficiencies in management of medical commodities to promote equitable allocation/distribution of medicines and other health supplies. Efforts that include training of health workers, use of technologies for quantification, ordering of supplies improv es availability and proper use of medicines and essential commodities.

10. Ctn · Information: Key in this area are monitoring and evaluation, setting up-to-date and appropriate guidelines and protocols, appropriate internet access, easy and time-efficient reporting system . Information should be collected from service delivery points to inform local and national level decision-making regarding key public health interests, such as vaccination coverage, drug availability, and health worker performance.

11. Ctn. · Service delivery : Management needs to ensure good patient satisfaction, on-time services, improved treatment and respect to patients, patient indiscrimination, mode of communications suitable to patients. The delivery of preventive and curative health services is coordinated to provide a full continuum of care. Ensure c lients are treated with dignity and respect and access to services that prevent or treat the most common ailments.

12. Ctn. An organised health system provide s universal health coverage: all people can access health care when they need it without being impoverished by the costs. Services should be distributed equitably so that people in the most remote areas easily reach ed by them and that services meet the needs of all residents, including women, youth, and minorities. A strong health system is embedded inextricably within the communities that it serves, and with them is able to learn, adapt, and adjust to changing circumstances, including crises, while continuing to ensure that all of the six pillars above work in con text.