GHI: Building on and Expanding Existing Platforms
The U.S. will strengthen health systems through close coordination with and technical assistance to governments, the private sector, and development partners, through measures such as:
- Identifying and implementing priority strategies to address health system bottlenecks, such as inadequate drug supplies; frequent shortages of essential medications; poor quality of diagnostic laboratory services; unavailability of vaccines and contraceptives; poor access to equipment and supplies; serious shortages of available and trained staff; restrictions on task-shifting for health workers; and the lack of rewards for good performance and sanctions for poor performance at all levels in the health system;
- Improved research and regulatory capacity to support clinical trials, to bring new, high-quality innovations to partner country markets; and to monitor the quality, safety, and efficacy of the supply chain;
- Strengthening existing public health surveillance and other data collection systems for monitoring diseases, conditions, health service provision, and health outcomes;
- Identifying and implementing changes required to re-focus the health platform to be results-oriented rather than input- or process-oriented, including increased focus on creating demand, applying quality improvement methods, and making governments and providers more accountable for results;
- Improving human resources for health by training current and additional health workers; deploying workers; motivating, mentoring and retaining trained workers;
- Increasing country capacity to manage, oversee, and operate national health systems, including the use of information and evidence for decision-making;
- Building on best practices and contributing to and leveraging efforts of multilateral partners and special global partnerships through joint assessments of national health programs, shared reviews of financing gaps and absorptive capacity, and refined auditing and reporting tools;
- Developing and communicating evidence on the links between health system strengthening, such as financial inputs, and health results; and
- Identifying and supporting policy and structural changes that improve health outcomes, including those outside the health sector.
How the U.S. can build upon existing health programs and strengthen country health systems and delivery platforms:
Measures to strengthen health systems and assess their efficiency and effectiveness being developed with partner countries and donors: