Case 1: building blocks of a health system: from theory to practice Flashcards
What is a system?
Interconnected set of elements that is organised in a way that achieves something.
What must a system consist of?
- elements
- interconnections
- fucntion/purpose
What are the characteristics of a health system?
- are a means to an end
- open systems
- positive & negative feedback loops
- static complexity
- dynamic complexity
.
.
What is a health system?
Consists of organisations, institutions, resources & people whose primary purpose = improve health
What goals are health systems focused on?
- improving health of population
- responding to citizens’ expectations
- providing financial protection against costs of ill-health
Why is it important to classify EU health systems?
- rational way to label what is complex
- allows for international comparisons of characteristics & performance
- enables policy assessments & recommendations to be made
What does health systems economic and social sustainability rely on?
- policy makers ability to stress strengths of existing health system types
- overcoming their weaknesses in terms of equitable & timely access to care.
What are the 3 actors in the HC systems?
- state
- non-governmental actors
- Market
What is the role of the EU in national health systems?
- Member States chose for a hands-off policy on health systems in 1992
- Now have cross-border care and economic reform (incl. healthcare)
Why are there different systems in different countries?
- What the health issue are in country. E.g. in Europe much less attention to pandemics than now (health status)
- Funding
- Capacity
- Values
- Level of centralization
*What is vertical integration?
IC brings together services at different stages of care
How does the WHO framework describe health systems?
Describes health systems interms of 6 “building blocks”
What are the WHO building blocks?
- Service delivery
- health workforce
- health information systems
- medical products, vaccines & technologies
- financing
- leadership/governance
**What is the defintion of building block service delivery
WHO building block
- comprehensive range of provided services, accessibility, coverage of a defined target population, continuity of care across networks, high quality and patient-centred care, active coordination, accountability and efficiency