Quality Health Systems

Health systems' resilience is necessary to prevent and efficiently respond to health shocks. Yet, health systems in a large number of low- and middle-income countries suffer from a lack of investment and poor management of available resources, with services relying too heavily on external funding. As a result, infrastructure, technologies, and equipment are lacking, and there is an acute shortage of qualified health workers. Furthermore, the absence of financial protection mechanisms forces patients to cover a large part of the costs themselves, thereby exacerbating inequities in access to care and hindering the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as part of the 2030 Agenda. To improve health for all at all ages, a coordinated approach to social, economic, cultural, and environmental determinants of health is needed. The SDC takes a comprehensive approach and supports HSS interventions in LMICs through innovative quality health products for poverty-related diseases developed through research and development, improving access to affordable quality health services, through improved governance and participation, and innovative and sustainable health financing, and by addressing health determinants and promoting gender-sensitive and gender-responsive health systems.

Videos of projects supported by SDC

• Recommended Readings

  • A Need for Novel Diagnostics: Meeting the Moment

    Appropriate patient care, disease surveillance and effective public health responses all hinge on accurate and timely diagnosis. As a major driver of health and economic outcomes, diagnostics represent a core pillar of global health security and universal health coverage, as a fundamental component of functioning health systems.

    PDF2.49 MB1 December 2022

  • A road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030

    The road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 is WHO’s second blueprint for preventing, controlling and, where feasible, eliminating and eradicating neglected tropical diseases. It follows the first road map, Accelerating work to overcome the global impact of neglected tropical diseases, issued in 2012 (1), which set out global targets and milestones to 2020 for the 17 NTDs that then comprised WHO’s NTD portfolio.

    PDF15.22 MB1 January 2020

  • Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections 2021

    The 2021 global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, is an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved in addressing these diseases to date, the setbacks caused by the pandemic, and the lessons learned for the coming decade

    PDF4.98 MB1 January 2021

  • Health For Everyone? Social Inequalities in Health And Health Systems

    This publication analyses inequalities in health and health systems and thus provides a key insight for the discussion of how societies can become more inclusive. It looks into socio-economic differences in the exposure to risk factors to health, health status, the utilisation of health services, unmet health care needs and coverage.

    PDF7.19 MB1 January 2019

  • Health in the 21st Century Putting Data to Work For Stronger Health Systems

    Health lags far behind other sectors in harnessing the potential of data and digital technology, missing the opportunity to save a significant number of lives and billions of dollars. A digital transformation is urgently needed and long overdue at a time of increasing pressure on health systems and budgets. This means ensuring access to the right information by the right people at the right time.

    PDF5.74 MB1 January 2019

  • Inequality Kills: The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of COVID-19

    Here’s a hard truth that the pandemic brought home to us. Unequal access to incomes and opportunities does more than create unjust, unhealthy, and unhappy societies: it actually kills people.

    PDF2.06 MB1 January 2022

  • Mental Health Atlas

    A map of mental health resources globally and an up-to-date overview of mental health system profiles in different countries and regions

    PDF5.55 MB1 January 2020

  • Monitoring Global Progress on Antimicrobial Resistance: Tripartite Amr Country self-Assessment Survey (Tracss) 2019-2020

    The annual Tripartite AMR country self-assessment survey (TrACSS) is a component of a broader approach for monitoring and evaluating the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (GAP-AMR). This report summarizes global responses from the fourth round of the TrACSS, held from November 2019 to July 2020.

    PDF2.80 MB1 January 2021

  • Norms, Standards and Processes Underpinning WHO Vector Control Policy Development

    In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed its processes for developing and disseminating policy guidance, spearheaded by a detailed analysis conducted within the Global Malaria Programme (GMP). The review identified areas for improvement, one of which is the better communication of the norms, standards and processes underpinning policy recommendations.

    PDF917.37 kB1 January 2020

  • Power, Privilege and Priorities

    Inequalities in health deeply touch people’s ability to pursue their life aspirations and to realise their human rights. However, the right to health is not equally realised by all. We can do better. Inequalities in health, and denials of human rights, can be a matter of life and death for women, girls and gender non-conforming individuals. Harmful gender stereotypes continue to exist and directly influence people’s bodily autonomy, risks of ill health and early death.

    PDF3.43 MB1 January 2020

  • Tracking Universal Health Coverage 2021: Global Monitoring Report

    Since 2000, service coverage has increased as average income has grown, but at an undue cost to many people. Trajectories on the path to UHC, as tracked by related SDG indicators on service coverage and financial hardship, vary substantially across WHO regions and countries. Country-level analysis of coverage policy is needed to identify gaps in health coverage, understand their causes and develop appropriate policy responses.

    PDF11.19 MB1 January 2021