Strengthening health systems needs sharper service delivery focus: Experiences and evidence from the field

A growing number of the world’s political and international health leaders recognize the urgent need to make a major, sustained commitment to strengthening health systems. The focus on disease specific approaches has raised concerns that funding for health system development has received insufficient attention Equally, Sector Budget Support to health and General Budget Support have fallen short of systems strengthening where it is weakest; at service delivery level.

Recent lessons from models using a stronger focus on specific services in a number of countries in Africa offer important insights and compelling options. Three programmes presented their experiences.

Speakers

• Seven Years On: What have we learnt from the Clover Health System, Strengthening Regional Programme, Dr James Tibenderana, Director, Case Management, Malaria Consortium
• Improving completeness, timeliness and utilisation of HMIS: Experiences from a health system strengthening project in Uganda, Dr Edward Mukooyo, Assistant Commissioner of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Uganda
• Programme to Revive Routine Immunisation in Nigeria: addressing critical pathways in the health system, Jeff Mecaskey, Managing Director, Health Partners International, http://www.healthpartners-int.co.uk/
• A perspective from Irish Aid, Dr Diarmuid McClean, Development Specialist, Irish Aid
• Chair: Dr David Weakliam, Chair, Irish Forum for Global Health