European Public Health Alliance (EPHA)’s Post

📢South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) and European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Forge New Partnership to Strengthen Public Health in South-Eastern Europe This MoU marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at improving public health outcomes and promoting sustainable health systems in the South-Eastern European region. This partnership is rooted in a shared vision of fostering healthier communities through joint initiatives and capacity-building efforts in line with the UN Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (hashtag #SDGs). The MoU was signed by Dr Mira Jovanovski-Dašić, Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, and Dr Milka Sokolović, Director General of EPHA. The agreement formalises a framework for cooperation between the two organisations, including organising joint events, promoting capacity-building activities, and contributing to the achievement of SDG 3—Good Health and Well-being. Dr Mira Jovanovski Dasic highlighted that "this partnership is a critical step towards strengthening health systems in South-Eastern Europe and by joining forces with EPHA, we will be better equipped to address key public health challenges in the region, including promoting equitable access to healthcare, improving health resilience, and advancing health policy reforms." The MoU emphasises collaboration in several key areas, including: ✅ Organising joint public health events and fostering actions aimed at achieving better health outcomes for all; ✅ Promoting institution- and capacity-building projects related to public health, such as healthy environments, health service delivery, and digital health; ✅ Joint contributions to the UN Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. "We are thrilled to collaborate with SEEHN to drive forward our shared goals of health equity and stronger, more sustainable health systems," said Dr Sokolović. "This partnership allows us to combine our expertise and networks to create lasting positive change in the region, improving health for everyone, especially vulnerable populations." This MoU will serve as a foundation for the two organisations to deepen their partnership over the next two years, with the potential for extension. The collaboration will also aim to facilitate knowledge sharing, support health system reforms, and promote the role of civil society in addressing public health challenges. The first step to advance join efforts shall focus to strengthen Digital Health Literacy for All, in particular vulnerable populations in the South Eastern Europe.

The Value of Partnering with the Public to Improve Health Services Join us to learn how public contributors and researchers partnered to improve health services and discuss ways to build on their work https://lnkd.in/eZv6W3BS

During this week West African Institute of Public Health, we had a series of discussions on Health Systems Strengthening. The following are my takeaways; Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) refers to initiatives, strategies, and actions aimed at improving the performance of health systems. The overarching goal is to ensure that health systems are efficient, equitable, and capable of delivering high-quality healthcare services to all segments of the population. HSS encompasses a broad range of activities, from enhancing healthcare infrastructure and workforce capacity to optimizing financing mechanisms and governance structures. Key Components of Health Systems Strengthening: 1. Service Delivery 2. Health Workforce 3. Information Systems 4. Medical Products, Vaccines, and Technologies 5. Financing 6. Leadership and Governance Importance of Health Systems Strengthening in Public Health: 1. Improved Health Outcomes: A robust health system can better prevent, detect, and manage diseases, leading to reduced morbidity and mortality rates. 2. Resilience to Crises: Strengthened health systems are more resilient and can respond effectively to health emergencies, such as pandemics, natural disasters, or outbreaks. 3. Equity in Healthcare: HSS initiatives aim to eliminate disparities in health service access and quality, ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized populations receive adequate care. 4. Economic Benefits: Healthy populations contribute to economic growth. Efficient health systems reduce the financial burden of diseases on individuals and societies. 5. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Strengthening health systems is integral to achieving several SDGs, particularly Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. 6. Integration of Services: HSS promotes the integration of various health services (e.g., maternal health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases), ensuring a more holistic approach to healthcare. 7. Enhanced Quality of Care: By focusing on system improvements, HSS leads to better patient experiences, safety, and satisfaction. In summary, Health Systems Strengthening is pivotal for building resilient, equitable, and effective healthcare infrastructures. By addressing systemic challenges, HSS ensures that public health initiatives are sustainable and capable of meeting both current and future health needs of populations. West African Institute of Public Health 3Ps Health Initiative International ADEYEMI OMOGE #DEAL_FELLOWSHIP #WAIPH

Urgent Reforms Needed: Revitalizing Somaliland’s Public Health System to Safeguard Community Health for the Future. Somaliland, a self-declared independent state in the Horn of Africa that has not yet gained international recognition, has made significant strides in state-building and good governance. It has successfully held various elections, including presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections. However, despite these achievements in democratization and governance, there has been a noticeable decline and neglect in the public health system, which urgently needs reform to ensure the well-being of its citizens. The Ministry of Health Development is tasked with safeguarding and advancing the nation’s health policies. However, it is undeniable that over the past 35 years, Somaliland’s public health services have lacked clear policies to prevent communicable diseases. In particular, over the last seven years, the general public health situation in the country has deteriorated and stagnated. I have confidence in the number and quality of public health professionals we have, who possess the necessary knowledge and experience to implement the urgent reforms needed to revive our country public health system. The Ministry of Health Development, especially Public Health Department has failed in its responsibilities to maintain and improve the public health systems, showing widespread inaction and inefficiency. In today’s world, where highly contagious diseases are becoming more prevalent, there is a global consensus that every country must diligently enforce its public health policies and prevention measures, fully utilizing the skills of trained public health workers. Over the last five years, the highest levels of mortality and morbidity have been recorded, according to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on global movement, caused significant loss of cherished lives. Somaliland was among the countries those seriously affected by the disease and lost many lives we valued. In an interview, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the only way to prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases is for every country to effectively mobilize its public health workforce. Therefore, we are at a critical juncture where urgent reforms are needed to revitalize and strengthen our country’s public health system. By: Abdiaziz Dahir (Diploma in CoD, BSc, MPH) Email: dsabdiaziz@gmail.com Tell: +252633730622 Date: 08/20/2024

Earlier this year I wrote a perspective piece on Value Based Health Care in the settler-colonial context of Australia's healthcare system for the Australian Health Review. The words came from an increasing frustration at the lack of recognition of the power and cruciality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges, People and organisations in health system reform spaces. "The ‘modern’ VBHC movement provides an opportunity to not only reform health care towards a more equitable, community-centred system, but to also acknowledge, honour and learn from global Indigenous knowledge, systems and ways of valuing knowing, being and doing. For Australia as a settler-colonial state, efforts to implement VBHC here are doomed to fail until the continued legacy of settler-colonial violence and systemic racism pervading Australia’s healthcare system is acknowledged, addressed and ameliorated." https://lnkd.in/geq9HXy5

🌍 Unlocking Market Access in Public Health 🚀 In a rapidly evolving global health landscape, navigating the complexities of market access is more crucial than ever. A recent article explores innovative strategies that can transform public health delivery, emphasizing the need for strategic adaptation and policy development. Key insights include: 🔑 Regulatory Alignment: Essential for achieving global health objectives. 💡 Digital Innovations: Streamlining processes and reducing costs to enhance service reach. 🤝 Collaborative Partnerships: Boosting effectiveness in health service delivery. 🎯 Tailored Solutions: Meeting the unique needs of diverse populations. By integrating technology and fostering strategic partnerships, we can overcome existing barriers to ensure equitable access to essential health services. Dive deeper into these transformative strategies by clicking on the embedded link! #DigitalHealth #HealthEconomics #HealthEquity #Innovation #MarketAccess #PublicHealth #Publications #MarketAccess #MarketAccessToday

🤝 Empowering People through Participatory Health Systems 🤝 The newly announced Lancet Global Health Commission on People-Centred Care for Universal Health Coverage is grounded in participatory principles, using community-engaged methods and shared governance models. 🌍 The Commission's approach begins with an open call for commissioner nominations, aiming to recruit a diverse, independent group of multidisciplinary experts, including: 👥 People with lived experience 🎓 Academic researchers 🏛️ Policymakers 👩⚕️ Health-care providers 🏢 Private sector actors 🤲 Civil society This shift towards transparency and shared decision-making is crucial in publications with global influence, like the Lancet, which can intentionally contribute to dismantling unequal power structures in global health. 💪 Over 2.5 years, the Commissioners will formulate research questions, synthesise evidence and conduct new research to inform policy and practice recommendations for operationalising people-centred care in diverse settings. 📊 Through this innovative and inclusive approach, the Commission aims to forge a new way of knowing and practicing health care in the post-Sustainable Development Goal era, using people-centred care as a guide to achieving Universal Health Coverage. 🎯 How do you think participatory approaches can help reorient health systems to be truly for and with the people they serve? 💡 #ParticipatoryHealthSystems #SharedDecisionMaking #CommunityEngagement #HealthForAll

🌟 Publication Alert - Bulletin of the World Health Organization 🌟 I am thrilled to share that our recent publication, titled "Performance Assessment to Improve Public Health Systems," has now been published in. Joint work with: Danielle Jansen, Simon van der Pol and Amrit Sandhu. 📄 Summary: Our study highlights the urgent need to strengthen public health systems facing pressures from noncommunicable diseases, health disparities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the Health System Performance Assessment Framework, we evaluated public health systems across nine jurisdictions to identify key areas for improvement. A critical element we identify is that the Framework as does not yet sufficiently take into account the impact of commercial interests on public health. Industries like tobacco, ultra-processed food, social media, and gambling thrive on the consumption of health-harming products, while pharmaceutical and medical technology firms benefit from treating avoidable diseases. Effective public health policies must robustly regulate these sectors to foster a societal model where healthier citizens contribute more productively both economically and socially. Other key findings are: 1.) The need for stronger prevention efforts to alleviate pressure on health systems. 2.) The importance of viewing health as a key production factor, essential for societal and economic functioning. 3.) Challenges in defining the scope and boundaries of public health within the assessment framework. 4.) The necessity for accountability in achieving health goals, similar to fiscal and environmental targets. 5.) Recognizing funding for prevention as an investment in future health, rather than a mere expense. 🔗 The full paper is here: https://lnkd.in/efmPyvR8 #PublicHealth #HealthSystems #PerformanceAssessment #Healthcare #Research #HealthPolicy #Prevention #GlobalHealth

🌍 EU Health Joint Actions: Bridging the Impact Gap 🏥 A recent study reveals a concerning disparity between the number of European Joint Actions (JAs) initiated and those effectively evaluated for impact. With only 20% of initiatives undergoing formal assessments, the need for a unified evaluation strategy is more pressing than ever. Key insights include: - The importance of governance and stakeholder relationships in successful evaluations. - Challenges posed by diverse healthcare infrastructures and resistance to change. - The necessity for standardized frameworks to enhance accountability and transparency. As we strive to improve public health policies across Europe, it's crucial to develop adaptable evaluation models that cater to local contexts while ensuring consistent impact measurement. Let's work together towards a more effective health landscape! 💪 👉 Click the link for more details! #EUHealth #HealthcareQuality #ImpactEvaluation #JointActions #PublicHealth #Publications #RegulatoryAgencies #MarketAccess #MarketAccessToday

Health and Equity in All Policies (HiAP) is a growing field of practice for governance and public health. Here's how PHI's State of Equity has contributed to the global HiAP field of practice, demonstrating how different sectors can work together to promote policies that reduce inequities and improve health outcomes for everyone -- https://lnkd.in/gqPpwnam