Health system performance assessment

2022 Progress report on the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All. Stronger collaboration for an equitable and resilient recovery towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals – Incentivizing collaboration

As COVID-19 continued to dominate global health over the last year, the direct and indirect impact of the pandemic has led progress against the health-related SDGs to fall even further behind.  At the same time, crises such as armed conflict, increasing food insecurity, political and economic instability and the growing impact of climate change threaten to derail recovery from the pandemic.

A key way to respond to and ensure an equitable and resilient recovery from COVID-19 is for multilateral agencies to collaborate even more closely in providing effective and efficient joint support to countries, which is the foundation of the ...

Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for Universal Health Coverage

The goal of this Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for UHC is to advance improvements in health and progress towards UHC through aligning health worker education approaches with population health needs and health system demands. More specifically, the primary objective of this document is to provide guidance for the specification of pre-service and in-service competency-based education outcomes for health workers, which in turn inform the development of relevant curricula, learning activities and assessment approaches. Its main target audience is health workforce educators, but it can be of relevance also for licensing and regulatory authorities and health service and facility managers ...

Benefit design: the perspective from health financing policy

Given the central importance of public financing to make progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), government policy on benefit design, including both service entitlements and conditions of access, significantly influences health system performance. Benefit design considers how all public funds are used and should be based on evidence and developed through a systematic process involving key stakeholders. Reducing uncertainty over entitlements and conditions of access, in particular co-payments, both reduces barriers to accessing services and improves financial protection. Finally, aligning benefit design with a range of health financing policies, as well as service with delivery objectives, provides a powerful way ...

Framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care

The framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care identifies key aspects necessary to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care service provision and to facilitate the integration of long-term services within existing health and social care systems.

The framework will guide countries in assessing system-level components to implement sustainable and equitable long-term care actions. By applying this framework, countries can begin to develop and shape their long-term care systems as part of their universal health coverage programmes and promote investment in long-term care and the health workforce, including carers.

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Caring for those who care: Guide for the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers

Overview

Occupational health and safety programmes aim to prevent diseases and injuries arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of work, while improving the quality and safety of care, safeguarding the health workforce and promoting environmental sustainability in the health sector.

This guide provides an overview of the key elements of occupational health and safety programmes for health workers at national, subnational and facility levels, as well as advice for the development and implementation of such programmes.

Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches

The WHO Guidance on community mental health services: Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches document is part of the WHO Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services set of publications. It provides a detailed description of person-centred and human rights-based approaches in mental health, and summary examples of good practice services around the world. It describes the linkages needed with housing, education, employment and social protection sectors, and presents examples of integrated regional and national networks of community-based mental health services. Specific recommendations and action steps are presented for developing community mental health services that respect human rights and ...

Nothing for us, without us: opportunities for meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs

People living with NCDs (PLWNCDs) are experts in their own right and if meaningfully engaged can be key partners and drivers in the co-creation, implementation and evaluation of NCD policies, programs, and services. 

This report is a result of the WHO Informal Consultation on PLWNCDs and outlines the participatory methods, main themes discussed and key next steps to further support meaningful engagement.

Primary health care, the Declaration of Astana and COVID-19

Abstract Four decades after the Declaration of Alma-Ata, its vision of health for all and strategy of primary health care are still an inspiration to many people. In this article we evaluate the current status of primary health care in the era of the Declaration of Astana, the sustainable development goals, universal health coverage and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Communities, universal health coverage and primary health care

Universal health coverage (UHC) depends on a strong primary health-care system. To be successful, primary health care must be expanded at community and household levels as much of the world’s population still lacks access to health facilities for basic services. Abundant evidence shows that community-based interventions are effective for improving health-care utilization and outcomes when integrated with facility-based services. Community involvement is the cornerstone of local, equitable and integrated primary health care.