NCDs in low and middle-income countries - assessing the capacity of health systems to respond to population needs

Excerpt

Health systems consist of individuals, organisations and process. They require leadership and governance to determine policy and direction and the resources to manage the needs of the populations they serve. They require evidence to guide the best health policies and programs, and ongoing surveillance to monitor the performance. They also require mechanisms for engaging with communities, not only to remain responsive to health needs, but also to facilitate the ability of communities to mobilise resources and to participate actively in promoting and managing their health. The role of communities as an integral part of health systems is increasingly important within the context of the growing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden. …