SDC applies a poverty focus in supporting health services according special attention to women, children and other vulnerable groups. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation promotes access to and quality of an essential package of basic and good quality services at all levels of the system. These may range from home care and outreach services, Primary Health Care and Family Medicine to the referral level, depending on public health considerations.

SDC helps to improve the management of health services and resources (incl. Health Management and Information Systems, Resources and Health Technology Management and the provision of Essential Drugs, etc). SDC supports the development of sustainable and pro poor health financing models. SDC promotes a private-public mix of pro poor health services. SDC promotes user friendly preventive, curative and care activities. Switzerland supports a stronger role of the private sector (profit and non-profit), while enabling the public sector to regulate and coordinate the private and informal sector. It fosters collaboration amongst all actors involved in improving health, and aims to strengthen cooperation with NGOs and other civil society groups as well as the traditional health sector, involving them all in developing pro-poor offers.

Source: SDC Health Policy 2002-2010