Improving public health in health systems: guidance for country-level policies and actions

Overview

The world is facing intersecting crises from climate shocks and humanitarian emergencies to infectious disease outbreaks and economic instability that strain health systems already weakened by chronic underinvestment in public health. The diverse and evolving nature of threats and challenges to population health, now more than ever, demand integrated, comprehensive and proportionate public health capacities that are embedded within health systems and supported by multisectoral collaboration across health and allied sectors.

The guidance aims to look at the current consideration of public health and guidance to improve the delivery of public health services in health systems. Specific objectives are to (a) describe the current consideration of public health in health systems by using the six health system building blocks, as presented in literature; and (b) identify entries and actions with case examples to guide the improvement of public health in health systems. 

The guidance targets stakeholders involved in strengthening health systems and public health, especially in planning, financing, organizing and delivering health services at the national and subnational levels. The guidance can serve as a practical resource for stakeholders to align public health priorities with broader system goals, ensuring that essential public health functions are adequately planned, financed and delivered at national and subnational levels to meet population health goals, and that more coherent and sustainable approaches to health system strengthening are applied.