The Influence of Health Systems and Reforms

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND REFORMS
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Health Systems and Reforms
Health systems and health system reforms influence the delivery of care across nations. Different nations have different health systems and approaches to health system reforms. However, at their most basic level, these systems are meant to promote population health and improve the quality of life. There have been calls to strengthen health systems, and this has been one of the agendas of the World Health Organisation (WHO) (Manyazewal 2017, p.1). Effective health systems should enhance accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and equity in the delivery of quality care. This paper explores health systems, health systems reforms, and their components. It also discusses health equity and equality and how these concepts can be applied in the Nigerian context to promote equitable immunisation against COVID-19.
Health Systems
Health systems play a significant role in the delivery of care. Health systems are defined as the people, institutions, and resources that work together to perform a health action meant to promote and improve the health of consumers (Broerse & Grin 2017, p.1). In a health system, all players are interrelated and organised towards achieving a common goal. Healthcare systems serve one primary purpose; to enhance the delivery of care and promote the health of a population (Sun 2020, p.65). However, it also serves other secondary purposes, some of which are not health-related. For instance, Sun (2020, p.65) indicates that health systems create employment, not only for healthcare professionals, but other support staff working in the healthcare industry. For a health system to be considered effective and efficient, it must address sustainability issues in several key areas: accessibility, affordability, equity, quality, and acceptability (Broerse & Grin 2017, p.15). These areas remain a challenge, even in some of the most developed economies, which is why there have been constant calls for health system reforms.
WHO developed a health systems framework that is formulated around six key building blocks (Manyazewal, 2017; Sacks et al., 2019). These building blocks can also be considered as the components of health systems. Below is a description of the components:
Health workforce- Health systems should have human resources that efficiently respond to the needs of the population in a fair manner (Manyazewal 2017, p.2). It should do so while utilising the existing/available resources and within any given circumstance. Thus, there should be basic efforts aimed at developing and maintaining an effective health workforce. These efforts include facilitating the recruitment of individuals to join the healthcare workforce, improving their education to ensure that competent healthcare professionals are released into the industry, and ensuring that healthcare organisations and ultimately, healthcare systems, retain healthcare professionals. This last part is especially important at a time when there is a global nursing shortage. Sacks et al. (2019, p.4) indicate that to meet the specific needs of populations and respond to them effectively, the healthcare workforce should incorporate both community...