Person:
El-Saharty, Sameh
Author Name Variants
Fields of Specialization
Health policy; health reform; health systems; health management; public health; maternal health; child health; non-communicable diseases; health service delivery; human resources; primary health care; hospital reform; health insurance; health financing; Global, Middle East region; Africa region; South Asia region
Degrees
ORCID
Departments
Health, Nutrition and Population
Externally Hosted Work
Contact Information
Last updated
January 31, 2023
Biography
Sameh El-Saharty works as Lead Health Policy Specialist at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Before joining the Bank, he held several positions with international organizations, academic institutions, and consulting firms such as USAID, WHO, UNFPA, Harvard University, the American University in Cairo, Georgetown University, and Pathfinder International. He has extensive experience for over 40 years working as researcher, technical advisor, and international consultant on public health, health policy and management, health insurance, and health sector reform programs in more than 30 countries in the MENA region, Africa, South Asia, and in the US. His recent work has focused on health systems with particular interest in health service delivery. He is currently a member of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) Dean’s Leadership Council, HSPH Alumni Council, the Executive Committee of the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Arab Association, and the Advisory Committee of the MENA Health Policy Forum. He is a Medical Doctor, graduated from Cairo University, and earned an MPH degree from the Military Medical Academy, Egypt, a Fellowship in Social and Economic Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a Master of Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health.
Publication Search Results
1 - 10 of 22
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Publication
Improving Health Service Delivery in Developing Countries : From Evidence to Action
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2009)Decision makers and the public are in need of information to guide their decisions about how to strengthen health services. This book pulls together available evidence concerning strategies to improve health services delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), using current methods to assemble a knowledge base and analyze the findings. It describes the results of reviews of such strategies, and how such strategies can produce gains for the poor. This type of information is intended to help decision makers in LMICs learn from others and from their own experiences, so that they may develop and implement strategies that will improve health services in their own setting. The book provides some suggestions for what works and how to improve implementation, as the evidence does not hold up for 'blueprint' planning. It finds that there are many ways that can succeed in improving health services. But not nearly enough attention has been paid to demonstrating how to improve services for the poor. Approaches that ask difficult questions, use information intelligently, and involve key stakeholders and institutions are critical to 'learning and doing' practices that underlie successful implementation of health services. -
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Egypt and the Millennium Development Goals : Egypt and the Millennium Development Goals
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2005-02)There are challenges that hinder progress toward the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), targets in Egypt. These challenges include the pervasive differentials and gaps in the delivery, availability, and quality of publicly financed services and programs, the gender gaps; the fragmented legal system; and the lack of opportunity for civil society to participate in the development process. The report outlines a number of strategies to accelerate achievement of the MDGs in Egypt, including: 1) strengthening government stewardship and regulation, 2) encouraging community participation, 3) improving targeting of publicly financed services, 4) enhancing knowledge and awareness and promoting healthy behaviors, and 5) adopting a multisectoral framework. As 2015 approaches, there will be even greater attention given to the MDGs. The extent to which they are achieved will provide a benchmark for assessing how effective governments and the development community are at supporting human development. The momentum for achieving the MDGs in Egypt needs to be sustained to demonstrate that it has the systems, resources, and structures in place to improve the lives of its people. It is equally important that the focus on achieving the MDGs is not at the expense of programs and priority areas not directly linked to the MDGs. -
Publication
Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases in Bangladesh : Now is the Time
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013-08-21)This report is organized in such a way that the key policy options and strategic priorities are based on the country context, including the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and associated risk factors and the existing capacity of the health system. Chapter one describes the country and regional contexts and the evidence of the demographic and epidemiological transitions in Bangladesh; chapter two outlines the disease burden of major NCDs, including the equity and economic impact and the common risk factors; chapter three provides an assessment of the health system and its capacity to prevent and control major NCDs; chapter four summarizes ongoing NCD interventions and activities in Bangladesh and highlights the remaining gaps and challenges; and chapter five presents key policy options and strategic priorities to prevent and control NCDs. -
Publication
Population, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Policy Harmonization in Bangladesh
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)Over the past 30 years, Bangladesh has achieved significant economic and human development progress, and demonstrated impressive policy as well as programmatic commitment to lowering the fertility level. However, its future socioeconomic prospects may be hampered by its population growth rate, depending on how quickly the fertility rates decline and at which point they stabilize. Projections estimate that the total population of Bangladesh in 2051 could increase to 218.1 million under a laissez faire projection scenario and 201.3 million under an accelerated fertility transition (AFT) scenario. This difference would have significant impacts on public spending, public services, and job creation. An AFT scenario would enable the country to improve the dependency ratios possibly resulting in economic benefits from harnessing the demographic dividend for several decades. To accelerate the demographic transition, the government will need to revitalize high-level coordination to ensure multisectoral engagement in population policies, including increasing the age at marriage, and improving education, skills development, job creation, and social safety nets for the vulnerable population groups. In addition, a sustained decline in fertility through increased access and coverage of family planning (FP) services is crucial, mainly by focusing on lagging regions and hard-to-reach areas, and by expanding the supply and provision of FP long acting and permanent methods. Strengthening the synergy and coordination of service delivery between the Health and FP directorates by building capacity for systems strengthening; promoting cross-referral between programs; and efficient provisioning of FP and reproductive health services through community clinics need to remain at the forefront of the government s health improvement efforts in Bangladesh. -
Publication
Bhutan : Maternal and Reproductive Health at a Glance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)Bhutan is a small landlocked country in the Himalayas between China and India. Poverty reduction has been rapid from about 23 percent in 2007 to 12-13 percent in 2012. Gender equality and women's empowerment are important determinants of reproductive health. Contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is higher among the poorest quintile than the richest. Large disparities in access to skilled birth attendant remain by geography and wealth quintile. Poor nutrition is a serious issue for pregnant mothers, since 55 percent of women are anemic. Bhutan will need to focus on increasing the focus on quality along the continuum of care; improving access and equity; and ensuring sustainability of health financing. -
Publication
Bangladesh : Maternal and Reproductive Health at a Glance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Poverty remains high at 43 percent of the population subsist on less than United States (U.S.) $1.25 per day (2010). Bangladesh achieved several millennium development goal (MDG) targets in education, health, and poverty reduction. Gender equality and women's empowerment are important determinants of reproductive health. While fertility and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) are evenly distributed, wide gaps in access to maternal health services remain. Bangladesh will need to focus on increasing political commitment to adolescent health; focusing interventions on high-fertility and high maternal mortality ratio (MMR) areas; addressing human resources constraints; and harnessing the use of technology. -
Publication
India : Maternal and Reproductive Health at a Glance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)India is the third largest economy and has the second largest population in the world. It achieved millennium development goal (MDG) on poverty reduction; however, gender inequality still persists. Maternal mortality rate is 190 deaths per 100,000 live births, representing a 65 percent decline from 1990. Fertility fell to 2.5, while contraceptive prevalence rate increased to nearly 55 percent. Seventy-four percent of women sought antenatal care (ANC) from a qualified provider and 52 percent of births were attended by qualified providers. Wide gaps in contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and access to skilled-birth attendance remain by geography and wealth quintile. India will focus on preventing unwanted pregnancies especially among adolescents; improving demand-side strategies; strengthening access and quality in public and private sectors; improving antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care; strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M and E) systems and reducing inequities; and improving nutrition. -
Publication
Nepal: Maternal and Reproductive Health at a Glance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)Nepal has made a remarkable progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in extreme poverty and education. Nepal has achieved MDG 5 but only one in three births is attended by skilled medical personnel. Disparities exist in access to maternal care by residence and wealth quintiles. The total fertility rate has declined to 2.4 in 2012, along with increased contraceptive use at 50 percent. High unmet need of 27 percent still remains. Nutritional deficiencies for pregnant and lactating women remain a challenge. Nepal has initiated a number of key interventions to respond to increased adolescents needs for health services, improve accessibility and quality of services at local level, and enhance equitable access to services through micro-planning exercise and provision of financial protection. -
Publication
Maldives: Maternal and Reproductive Health at a Glance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-11)Maldives, a middle income country, is on track to meet most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while gender gap requires attention. Maldives has made great progress in improving maternal health and has achieved MDG. The total fertility rate has declined to 2.3 in 2012. Contraceptive use has increased but high unmet need of 28.1 percent is of concern. Skilled birth attendance is high at 95 percent. Access to maternal health services is fairly equitable by residence and wealth quintile, while geographical access to services remains challenging. Also, unwanted pregnancies among young women are on the rise. Maldives has initiated a number of interventions to increase adolescents needs for sexual and reproductive health services, improve quality of RMNCH services, and increase utilization of health services at local level. -
Publication
The Path to Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh: Bridging the Gap of Human Resources for Health
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2015-05-22)Bangladesh is committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2032; to this end, the government of Bangladesh is exploring policy options to increase fiscal space for health and expand coverage while improving service quality and availability. Despite Bangladesh’s impressive strides in improving its economic and social development outcomes, the government still confronts health financing and service delivery challenges. In its review of the health system, this study highlights the limited fiscal space for implementing UHC in Bangladesh, particularly given low public spending for health and high out-of-pocket expenditure. The crisis in the country’s human resources for health (HRH) compounds public health service delivery inefficiencies. As the government explores options to finance its UHC plan, it must recognize that reform of its service delivery system with particular focus on HRH has to be the centerpiece of any policy initiative.