When do vertical (stand-alone) programmes have a place in health systems?
Authors/Editors: Rifat A. Atun1, Sara Bennett2, Antonio Duran3. Editor: Govin Permanand
Publisher: WHO Regional Office for Europe and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Publication date: 2008
Language: English
Number of pages: 36
Overview
“….. The terms vertical and integrated are widely used in health service delivery, but each describes a range of phenomena. In practice, the dichotomy between them is not rigid, and the extent of verticality or integration varies between programmes – including:
- a vertically funded, managed, delivered and monitored programme;
- one with integrated funding, organization and management but separate delivery; and
- a fully integrated approach comprising comprehensive primary health care services.
Most health services combine vertical and integrated elements, but the balance between programmes in these elements varies considerably. Hence, when vertical and horizontal and programme design are being discussed, clarity is needed on the programme element being referred to:
- a vertically funded, managed, delivered and monitored programme;
- one with integrated funding, organization and management but separate delivery; and
- a fully integrated approach comprising comprehensive primary health care services.
1Centre for Health Management, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
2Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Health Systems and Services, World Health Organization
3Director, Técnicas de Salud, Sevilla, Spain