Strengthening health systems governance

The overarching aim of WHO’s work on governance is to strengthen health systems and advance their objectives while minimizing the risk of conflict and policy failure. Strengthening health systems governance is key to sustaining countries’ efforts to run their health systems effectively; conduct the reforms necessary to deliver equitable, responsive, efficient and quality health services that are people-centred; and ultimately achieve the health system goal of better population health outcomes.

Health system governance is the process of ensuring that the institutions responsible for overseeing the health system, typically the health ministry, have the capabilities and capacity to effectively carry out their functions. This involves the existence of strategic policy frameworks, combined with effective oversight, coalition-building, regulation, attention to system design and accountability.

In the WHO European Region, where numerous health issues fall outside the mandate of health ministries, it is crucial to identify innovative solutions to strengthen health systems governance by collaborating with other governmental sectors and advocating for whole-of-government approaches to promote health and well-being.

WHO is partnering with countries to strengthen their health systems governance by:

• producing evidence on best practices and sustaining policy dialogue for increased civil society and multistakeholder engagement in the formulation and implementation of health policies;
• carrying out country-tailored governance reviews and capacity-building activities, including on anti-corruption to enhance transparency and accountability mechanisms within health systems, particularly when engaging with private sector entities;
• conducting reviews of existing health governance models and mechanisms in the Region to identify and share best practices;
• producing briefs and deep dives to strengthen countries’ capacities to work across governmental sectors to develop policies that promote health equity and well-being.