Health Systems 20/20

Part 2: What health system strengthening issues matter to you?

2009-08-31T15:30:00+00:00

Dr. Milena Gajic-Stevanovic of Serbia responds to Health Systems 20/20's call, highlighting the importance of policy tools such as National Health Accounts in managing health care resources.

What health system strengthening issues matter to you?

2009-07-08T21:15:00+00:00

Last week, Health Systems 20/20 put out a call to the health systems strengthening community to "tell the world about health system strengthening issues that matter to you" by contributing to our blog. We received a number of responses (thank you, HSS community!) and look forward to receiving more in the coming weeks.

Global TB Control 2009 - A Health Systems Update

2009-06-15T22:00:00+00:00

The WHO has recently published the Global TB Control Report 2009 ("2009 Report"). There is progress in meeting the TB-related MDG targets, but it is not sufficient nor universal across the world. Viewing the blockages to achievement of TB targets through a health systems lens has acknowledged relevance in Africa and Asia. This blog entry reviews the priorities in this regard.

Maternal Waiting Homes in Nicaragua

2009-05-13T21:45:00+00:00

I’m getting my first taste of the trials and tribulations that accompany a qualitative interview project in a developing country. I’m working as a volunteer for the Population Council and through a series of interviews with health officials, am hoping to deliver some background information on the extent and quality of the Maternal Waiting Homes (Casas Maternas) program in Nicaragua. Casas Maternas provide shelter and medical care to pregnant women who are either geographically or economically unable to access health services, and need a safe place to deliver their baby.

Health Systems: Lessons from Abroad

2009-04-23T20:15:00+00:00

International Health has gained significant momentum in the past few years, making it one of the trendiest avenues of medical practice. As the machine of global medicine quickly accelerates toward improving health conditions abroad, domestic healthcare issues must not be allowed to fade from view.

Rural Vs. Urban Access to Health Services

2009-04-12T20:15:00+00:00

One of the first things I noticed when we got to Nicaragua was that everyone seemed very young. Seven out of ten of the people you pass on the street are under thirty, and most of them look like they are under 20. I’ve started researching this a bit more as background knowledge for a series of interviews I’m going to be conducting on the topic of Maternal Waiting homes in Nicaragua, and have discovered that my initial observation is correct. Adolescents (age 15-19) represent 26% of the population, and the percentage of women within that age bracket getting pregnant is the second highest in Central America. Not surprisingly, more than half of those pregnancies are unplanned.

"Solidarity" Health System

2009-03-12T22:15:00+00:00

The Nicaraguan health system is in a state of transition, and as a volunteer with the Centro de Salud in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua I have a front row seat. The recently elected government is introducing a new health system called "solidarity" in an effort to both improve services, and increase access to win back the confidence of the Nicaraguan people. Changes include free medication and medical visits, and an overall shift in philosophy to preventative medicine through health education, and training programs for local health promoters or "brigadistas".

Where are we on ART Scale-up: Updates from a PEPFAR Conference

2009-03-11T08:45:00+00:00

Reducing HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality is a major health system issue in high prevalence countries. In this context, where are PEPFAR countries today on achieving their coverage targets for ART? Given the current economic crisis in developing country finances and the uncertainty in foreign donor commitments, what is the likelihood of further scale-up? An update from recent data presented at a PEPFAR ART Costing Conference in February 2009

The Asia Pay for Performance Workshop Begins

2009-01-18T09:00:00+00:00

As last minute preparations here in Cebu continue and participants begin to arrive, it seems unbelievable that we have finally come to the point where all of our planning becomes reality: the Asia Pay for Performance Workshop, co-sponsored by USAID/Health Systems 20/20, AusAID, the Center for Global Development, Norad, and the World Bank, will officially begin Monday, January 19, 2009.

End of year post: Thinking before acting: the state of health policy and systems research in 2008

2008-12-14T20:15:00+00:00

The 2004 ministerial forum on health research in Mexico emphasized a 'historical neglect' of health policy and systems research focusing on, and from low-income countries. In the four years since, what has changed and what should be the focus going forward? A review of a recent Lancet article by Bennett et al. reveals the answers.

Private Provider Retention in Ethiopia

2008-10-20T21:00:00+00:00

In Ethiopia, private providers are leaving clinics and hospitals in alarming numbers. A recent investigation tried to find out the reasons for the high turnover, and what could be done about it.

Future Health Systems Part I: A Little Matter of Institutions

2008-10-08T10:15:00+00:00

Is it too premature to be thinking of Future Health Systems, especially for low-income and transition countries? Given that the existing systems in sub-Saharan Africa and in low-income Asia are under stress from high disease burden (demand-side) and a lack of resources (supply-side), shouldn't we fix the problems currently at hand? Not premature at all, say the editors of a recent series of papers in the journal Social Science & Medicine.

Health systems - a strong foundation to support HIV/AIDS services

2008-09-16T12:30:00+00:00

There has been much discussion recently regarding the effect of HIV/AIDS programs on strengthening health systems as a whole. To take a step back, I would like to discuss how addressing health systems issues are critical to strengthening HIV/AIDS programs.

If it's not broken, then make it better

2008-08-26T17:00:00+00:00

Now that we've all heard at IAC'08 and after: disease-specific programs do no harm to health systems and may in fact help them, what's on the agenda for integration and health system strengthening? An analysis of a recent piece by Daniel Low Beer from the Global Fund reveals some hints of what is on the horizon.

What’s love got to do with it

2008-08-06T16:45:00+00:00

A study of 700 sero-positive adolescents in Uganda revealed them to be an ignored yet high risk group. As they entered adulthood, both young women and men expressed the desire to have a loving relationship and raise a family.