Skip to main content

Importance of Health Systems Strengthening in Achieving UHC


The theme for the 51st Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine – IAPSMCON 2024 organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, was “Transformations for achieving SDGs: Innovate, Integrate, Implement.”



Speaking on “Health System Strengthening for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)- Need of the Hour” on February 9, 2024, Dr Sudha Chandrashekhar (Advisor, HSTP) shared key insights on how Health System Strengthening (HSS) impacts achieving UHC:

Role of HSS in UHC: Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) is vital for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It involves purposeful efforts to enhance the performance of healthcare systems, aligning with the objectives of national health policies. HSS ensures quality, equity, efficiency, accountability, resilience, and sustainability in healthcare delivery.

Challenges to Government:

  • Disease-oriented funding with limited coordination among partners and poor alignment with national health strategies and plans
  • Neglecting long-term sustainable investments in health systems
  • Rigidities in the production and allocation of professional roles and vested interests in the management of health services.
  • Achieving UHC necessitates guidance for a cohesive approach to strengthen health systems, tailored to individual country contexts, thereby addressing these challenges.

Approach to Health Systems Strengthening: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health systems strengthening. The following principles guide action in prioritising and implementing HSS:

  • Leaving no one behind: a commitment to equity, non-discrimination, and a human rights-based approach
  • Transparency and accountability for results
  • Evidence-based national health strategies and leadership
  • Making health systems everybody’s business with the engagement of citizens, communities, civil society, and the private sector
  • International cooperation based on mutual learning across countries and development effectiveness principles.



Way Forward:

  • Improving global coordination of HSS efforts, aligning with related initiatives
  • Strengthening multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and coordination of HSS efforts within countries
  • Prioritizing impact at the country level through the development of tools and approaches to enhance coordination
  • Facilitating coordinated technical assistance to support health system strengthening efforts
  • Leveraging UHC2030 initiatives, including knowledge exchange and learning, for enhanced coordination

HSTP’s focus on overcoming the challenges and adopting the right approach to health systems strengthening to achieve UHC and contribute to the SDGs is aligned to these objectives.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

India HPSR Fellowship Program - An Overview

With the aim to build the capacity of researchers and practitioners to develop and implement HPSR, HSTP has taken on the role of creating a community of Health Policy and System Researchers in India.  Our flagship initiative, the India Health Policy & Systems Research Fellowship program was launched in January 2021. This initiative of HSTP aims to enhance the capacity of mid-career public health professionals in health policy and systems research (HPSR) methods to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in health. Organised in collaboration with a global network of eminent partners, the fellowship envisages to identify twenty fellows each year. Each cohort is trained in HPSR methods through a blended training program that includes practical experience of conducting an HPSR study. For instance, the second cohort selected in year 2022 took to study topics ranging from Multimorbidity Management in PHCs, Digital Technology for Health Service Delivery, Systemic Complexities in Non-Co...

Health Journalism Fellowship - An Overview

  Media plays an essential role in mainstreaming the discourse on health systems and making it a social and political priority beyond times of crisis. Whether it is disseminating health information, promoting the importance of hand hygiene, maintaining social distancing during disease outbreaks, or taking personal measures for the prevention of non-communicable diseases, media is always critical.  In March 2022, HSTP organized a webinar with journalists about their experiences and challenges in covering aspects of the Indian health system. In the webinar, the participants drew attention to issues that restrict reporting on health systems in the Indian media, ways to incentivize public health journalism through awards and recognition, and the need to introduce fellowship programs to support young journalists. Opportunities like journalism fellowships that may enable an ecosystem of information exchange between the stakeholders working towards better health outcomes were also em...

Strengthening Public Health Systems in Meghalaya

Significant Achievements in Our Partnership with the State As a strategic partner to the Government of Meghalaya for strengthening its health system, HSTP conducts research and shares evidence-based recommendations to bridge gaps and enhance public health services. This month, a draft policy for Specialist and Public Health Cadres developed based on a comprehensive assessment by HSTP has been opened for public input. Additionally, the state-wide rollout of Internal Performance Agreements where HSTP provides technical assistance to the Department of Health, has marked a significant stride toward a more robust healthcare system.  HSTP’s support areas in the state of Meghalaya include health financing, resource planning for health, Human Resources for Health (HRH), and digital health. The team undertakes research to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in policy and program implementation. The goal is to address current gaps within the health system, enhance the delivery of publi...