Publication: Health Systems Analysis for Better Health System Strengthening
Date
2011-05
ISSN
Published
2011-05
Author(s)
Berman, Peter
Bitran, Ricardo
Abstract
Health system strengthening and reform
are often necessary actions to achieve better outcomes. The
World Bank's 2007 strategy for health, nutrition, and
population emphasizes the importance of health system
strengthening for results. This paper proposes 'health
systems analysis' as a distinct methodology that should
be developed and practiced in the design of policies and
programs for health system strengthening. It identifies key
elements of health systems analysis and situates them in a
logical framework supported by a wide range of data and
methods and a sizable global literature. Health systems
analysis includes evidence on health system inputs,
processes, and outputs and the analysis of how these combine
to produce the outcomes. It considers politics, history, and
institutional arrangements. Health systems analysis proposes
causes of poor health system performance and suggests how
reform policies and strengthening strategies can improve
performance. It contributes to implementation and
evaluation. Examples from Mexico, Ethiopia, and Turkey
illustrate the positive contributions health systems
analysis has made to development of successful health system
strengthening policies. Health systems analysis should be an
integral part of good practice in health system
strengthening efforts, including planning, policy
development, monitoring, and evaluation. Health systems
analysis can be conceived in a coherent and logical fashion
and can be practiced and improved.
Citation
“Berman, Peter; Bitran, Ricardo. 2011. Health Systems Analysis for Better Health System Strengthening. Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP)
discussion paper;. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13593 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”