Health System Framework

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is person-centredness in the context of health services?

Providing healthcare services with minimal wastage of resources

Developing health system policies without considering health information systems

Empowering people to take charge of their own health (correct)

Defining health workforce as only clinical staff

What is included in the definition of health workforce?

Clinical staff, management and support staff (correct)

Only management and support staff

Only pharmacists and dentists

Only clinical staff such as physicians and nurses

What can cause a shortage of health workers?

An increase in health education and training

Inadequate numbers and skills of people being trained, as well as losses caused by death, retirement, career change or out-migration (correct)

Adequate training and distribution of health workers

Improvement in health information systems

What is the foundation of decision-making across all health system building blocks?

Sound and reliable information Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key functions of health information systems?

Data generation and analysis Signup and view all the answers

How many key functions of health information systems are mentioned in the text?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a health system?

To improve health Signup and view all the answers

What are the three components of the WHO health system framework?

Six core components or 'building blocks' Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of leadership and governance in the WHO health system framework?

To provide the basis for the overall policy and regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the immediate output of the inputs into the health system?

Health service delivery Signup and view all the answers

What are the key input components of the health system?

Financing and the health workforce Signup and view all the answers

What is a key function of a health system?

Securing access to health services Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of health information systems in the WHO health system framework?

To provide the basis for the overall policy and regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the pyramid of healthcare facilities?

To deliver personal health care Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of comprehensive health services?

Providing preventative, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative services Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to the strengthening of health systems?

The six building blocks Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of accessible health services?

Having no undue barriers of cost, language, culture, or geography Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the health workforce in the WHO health system framework?

To provide health services Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of service delivery in terms of coverage?

Covering all people in a defined target population Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of continuity and coordination in service delivery?

To ensure continuity of care across the network of services Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of high-quality health services?

Being effective, safe, and timely Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of health service delivery?

To provide high-quality health services to all Signup and view all the answers

What is considered accessible according to the WHO framework?

Medicine outlets within a 1 hour walk Signup and view all the answers

What are the three functions of a financing system?

Revenue collection, fund pooling, and purchasing/provision of services Signup and view all the answers

What is ensured by a well-functioning health system?

Equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of leadership and governance in a health system?

Ensuring strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of a financing system?

To cover the health needs of the people in the health system Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of access to essential medicine?

Continuity and affordability of medicines Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concept of Health System

A health system consists of all organizations, institutions, resources, and people whose primary purpose is to improve health.
It delivers preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative interventions through a combination of public health actions and the pyramid of health care facilities.

WHO Health System Framework

The framework describes health systems in terms of six core components or "building blocks":
- Service delivery
- Access to essential medicine
- Financing
- Health workforce
- Health information system
- Leadership and governance

Service Delivery

Key characteristics of good service delivery:
- Comprehensiveness: a comprehensive range of health services is provided, appropriate to the needs of the target population.
- Accessibility: services are directly and permanently accessible with no undue barriers of cost, language, culture, or geography.
- Coverage: service delivery is designed to cover all people in a defined target population.
- Continuity and coordination: service delivery is organized to provide an individual with continuity of care across the network of services, health conditions, levels of care, and over the life-cycle.
- Quality: health services are of high quality, i.e., effective, safe, and according to the patient's needs.
- Person-centredness: empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.
- Accountability and efficiency: health services are well-managed to minimize wastage of resources.

Health Workforce

The health workforce includes all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health.
This includes clinical staff, management and support staff, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, managers, ambulance drivers, and accountants.
Shortages of health workers can be perceived from inadequate numbers and skills, maldistribution, and losses caused by death, retirement, career change, or out-migration.

Health Information Systems

Sound and reliable information is the foundation of decision-making across all health system building blocks.
The four key functions of health system information are:
- Data generation
- Organization
- Analysis and synthesis
- Communication and use

Access to Essential Medicine

Access has been defined as "having medicines continuously available and affordable at public or private health facilities or medicine outlets that are within one hour's walk of the population".
A well-functioning health system ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines, and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.

Health System Financing

The function of a health system concerned with the mobilization, accumulation, and allocation of money to cover the health needs of the people in the health system.
The financing system is often divided conceptually into three inter-related functions:
- Revenue collection
- Fund pooling
- Purchasing/provision of services

Leadership and Governance

Leadership and governance in building a health system involve ensuring that strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight, alignment, regulation, attention to system design, and accountability.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Understand the concept of a health system, its objectives, and the WHO health system framework. Learn about the components and functions of a health system.