It is widely recognised that to attain better health outcomes, we have to strengthen the entire health system on which delivery of health interventions depend. In a health systems development approach, the organisation and management of service provision is just one function alongside a range of interrelated factors including governance, financing, and developing infrastructure and human resources. Health systems development is a precondition for improved health outcomes, and with a strong focus on equity, this should mean health gains amongst the poorest.
- Our guiding principles are to work with government, civil society and other local partners to develop local leadership capacity to plan and manage health systems. We aim to promote a culture of critical enquiry, where local and international lessons on what works and what does not are debated and reflected in programming.
- Our approach to our work combines a process-oriented approach that is designed to build strong interpersonal relationships between ourselves and counterparts; and a performance-based approach that uses effective programme management techniques and performance management indicators to support a results-based approach to health sector development.
- Our expertise spans a broad spectrum of technical areas, including health policy and planning, health financing, human resource development and quality of care. Our skills in social development and pro-poor planning are invaluable to ensure equity in health systems development. Our specific expertise in maternal, newborn and reproductive health proves a useful entry point for wider systemic reform. Options’ experience in community monitoring has helped stimulate policy change grounded in user experience.
Examples of our work in health systems development include:
The Department of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW) of the Government of West Bengal (GoWB) has recently developed its Health Sector Strategy (HSS). This is an important step to bring about change in the health sector which will improve access to quality health services in the state, particularly amongst the poorest. Options, together with our joint-venture partner IPE, forms a technical assistance support team, known as TAST, which works closely with the government and its partners to identify and implement health sector reforms. A central part of our role is to develop greater capacity to plan and manage the health system.
Options is providing technical assistance to Pakistan’s National Health and Population Facility (NHF) through the Technical Assistance Management Agency (TAMA). TAMA provides targeted support to build the technical and management capacity of seven key areas of the Government’s health programme, including HIV & AIDS, malaria, TB, nutrition, population welfare, the Lady Health Worker programme and immunisation. The NHF, through TAMA, tackles systemic problems at the federal, provincial and district levels that limit the effectiveness of the health and population programmes, such as in the areas of resource flows, implementation and monitoring capacity, and effective policy development. TAMA set up and manages a National Health Policy Unit.
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