This week the @CSGH_DK blog is coming over all health systems! While initial thoughts may turn to doctors in white jackets and the aroma of disinfectant, health systems extend well beyond hospitals and clinics into the heart of every community, delivering many of the programmes and interventions aimed at improving individual and population health.
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“The sum total of all the organizations, institutions and resources whose primary purpose is to improve health” is how the World Health Organisation defines a health system. All countries have one, in some shape or form, yet there are vast inequities in access, utilisation and quality of care both within and between countries. Health systems are often highly politicised with debates on expenditure, structure and administration occurring the world over.
For health students and professionals it can be easy to take for granted the underlying systems that we rely on to deliver new and existing services. However, health systems themselves are in need of direct attention both from research and programmatic perspectives. This is especially the case in light of the post-2015 development agenda, where health systems need to be a central part of the debate in order to achieve the highly ambitious goals we should all be aiming for.
Throughout this week we will be bringing you student articles, guest articles and an interview from the Director of Health Systems Global, Professor Jeffrey Lazarus in order to shine a light on some of the hot topics in the field of health system.
We hope you enjoy reading them!
Henry and CSGH_DK blog team.
Eye on Global Health 