Health Systems Strengthening in the context of Universal Health Coverage

Abstract

A health system, or healthcare system, is an organisation of people, institutions, and resources that delivers healthcare services to meet the health needs of target populations. Health system strengthening is defined as any combination of initiatives and strategies that leads to better health through improvements in one or more of the health system’s functions, measured by increased access, coverage, quality, or efficiency. It is critical to sustaining improvements in health outcomes by reducing morbidities and mortalities. The South African (SA) Lancet National Commission defines a high-quality health system in the South African context as one that “achieves equitable health outcomes and long and healthy life for all.”¹