Understanding the causes of health system performance problems is the basis for developing effective health financing strategies. WHO provides guidance both on conducting deep-dive diagnostics in health financing, and on translating this knowledge into system-wide strategies. The issues of health programmes, focused on individual diseases or interventions, is important in many countries, and specific guidance is provided on how to develop greater efficiency across the health system. WHO’s standardized assessment of health financing systems looks at how aligned a country’s policies are with universal health coverage, and identifies priority directions to drive progress. The feasibility of health financing technical solutions is also considered in WHO guidance using political economy analysis.