Strengthening the Essential Public Health Functions – Part II

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At the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000, 189 member states of the United Nations reaffirmed their commitment to work for sustainable development and an end to poverty and agreed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The World Bank and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are among the many organizations committed to an unprecedented global effort to work towards the MDGs. However, many countries are not on track to achieve by 2015.

Several MDGs directly or indirectly concern health. Poor health reduces income and productivity, and undermines efforts to reduce poverty. Trends in health indicators need to improve faster to achieve the MDG targets. While effective and proven interventions exist, the challenge is to apply them, as well as to: improve policies, institutions, financing, household practices and service delivery; ease human resources and pharmaceutical market constraints; and strengthen core public health functions.

The World Bank is part of a growing consensus that stronger public health capacity in national health systems is indispensable for better health outcomes. PAHO, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Latin American Center for Health Systems Research (CLAISS), defined 11 Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) that capture the role of national health authorities. A tool was developed to assess EPHF performance, and used in 42 countries and territories in the Americas, providing a rich experience and strong empirical basis for plans of action. This experience and analysis is the basis for the content of this course.

To ensure its relevance and quality, this e-learning course was designed and organized by leading experts in public health and distance learning. Along with these technical content experts, the designers have ensured that the course blends technical knowledge and policy relevance with interactivity and practical examples to stimulate the learner.

The aim of the course is to develop leadership and competencies in performing and assessing the EPHF as a critical component in strengthening national capacity in public health. At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• apply the conceptual framework that supports the EPHF;
• describe and analyze each EPHF;
• apply the methodology and diagnostic tools to assess and monitor EPHF performance at national and subnational levels;
• design plans of action and strategies to strengthen public health functions and capacities within a specific country context;
• analyze the contribution of health systems and EPHF to achieving the MDGs using the framework provided;
• employ strategies for encouraging participation of key stakeholders in achieving public health objectives and reorienting health care services; and
• identify health problems that require cross-sectoral strategies to address.

The course is offered in three separate parts. This section (Part II) covers Track 2 Strategy and Policy: (v) Policy Development; (vi) Regulation; (vii) Health Promotion; and (viii) Research.