Health systems and reproductive health

Strengthening health systems to deliver reproductive health

There is worldwide recognition of the need to strengthen health systems, especially in developing countries, to achieve the global health and development agendas as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals. Weak health systems constrain the achievement of national health and developmental goals. Failed health systems are a major obstacle to scaling up effective interventions. Health systems strengthening figures prominently in WHO's 11th General Programme of Work (2006-2015) and the Medium-term Strategic Plan (2008–2013). Everybody's Business: Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Health Outcomes: WHO Framework for Action describes a set of essential building blocks that all health systems need to develop in order to meet national health goals and outcomes

The Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) conducts and support research that addresses key gaps in the evidence base on how to best strengthen health systems through reforms, partnerships with the non-state health sector and scaling-up of innovations on topics related to each of the system building blocks presented in the above figure. RHR also strives to build the capacity of governments, the private health sector and civil society organizations to strengthen leadership and governance, improve health care financing and provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services as described in the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action. The Department also conducts research on poverty reduction and the economic effects of improvements in sexual and reproductive health.