Health Systems

Summary

This YouTube episode delves into the concept of health systems, crucial for global health enthusiasts. It explains health systems as a collective of mechanisms, resources, and processes designed to meet a population's health needs, emphasizing prevention and access to services. The video uses the metaphor of a child's Popsicle stand to illustrate the six building blocks of health systems: leadership, finance, human resources, inventory, infrastructure, and health intelligence. Each component's role in ensuring the system's effectiveness is discussed, highlighting their interdependence and the impact of disruptions.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Health Systems are mechanisms, resources, and processes that meet the health needs of a population, including both treatment and prevention.
• 🏛️ Leadership, management, and governance are crucial for setting policies, coordinating resources, and ensuring accountability within health systems.
• 💼 Health Finance involves sourcing funds through taxation, insurance, out-of-pocket payments, and donations, aiming to provide accessible healthcare without causing financial hardship.
• 👩‍⚕️ Human Resources for Health is about having the right number and mix of healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to meet the population's needs.
• 💊 Health Inventory refers to the management of consumables like medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines, requiring effective procurement and supply chain management.
• 🏥 Health Infrastructure encompasses both physical structures like hospitals and clinics and technological systems that support their operation.
• 💡 Health Intelligence is about using data and information for decision-making in healthcare, influencing both clinical practices and health policy.
• 🔄 The building blocks of health systems are interrelated and interdependent, with issues in one area affecting the entire system.
• 👶 The metaphor of a child's Popsicle stand illustrates the components needed to run a health system, from vision and finance to human resources and inventory.
• 🎓 The University of Maryland's graduate school offers an online Global Health certificate program, providing flexible learning opportunities for professionals.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a health system?

A health system's primary purpose is to meet the health needs of a population, which includes not only providing access to health services when people are sick but also implementing measures to prevent illness in the first place.

How does the speaker relate the concept of a health system to a childhood Popsicle stand?

The speaker uses the metaphor of a childhood Popsicle stand to explain the components of a health system. Just as a Popsicle stand needs leadership, finance, human resources, inventory, infrastructure, and a way to track sales, a health system requires leadership and governance, health finance, human resources for health, health inventory, health infrastructure, and health intelligence.

What are the six building blocks of a health system as outlined in the script?

The six building blocks of a health system are: 1) Leadership, management, and governance; 2) Health finance; 3) Human resources for health; 4) Health inventory; 5) Health infrastructure; and 6) Health intelligence.

Why is health finance important in a health system?

Health finance is crucial as it involves finding the necessary funds to operate the health system and allocating those funds to various programs. It aims to ensure people can access healthcare without facing financial catastrophe or impoverishment due to unforeseen health expenses.

What are the five ways most health systems are financed?

Most health systems are financed through a combination of general taxation, social health insurance, voluntary or private health insurance, out-of-pocket payments, and donations to charities.

How does the concept of 'human resources for health' differ from other components of a health system?

Human resources for health refers specifically to having the right number and mix of staff, such as doctors, nurses, and lab staff, to ensure the health system operates effectively. It focuses on the personnel aspect of healthcare delivery.

What does 'health inventory' refer to in the context of a health system?

Health inventory refers to the consumable goods used by the health system on a daily basis, such as medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, etc. It involves a robust procurement and supply chain management system to prevent stockouts and oversupply.

Why is 'health infrastructure' a critical component of a health system?

Health infrastructure is critical because it includes both physical infrastructure, like hospitals, clinics, and laboratories, and technological infrastructure, like information and communication technology. This ensures the health system operates efficiently and services are accessible to the population.

What role does 'health intelligence' play in a health system?

Health intelligence involves capturing and using timely and reliable data to support health decision-making. It informs both clinical decision-making and overall health policy and strategy, ensuring the health system adapts to data-driven insights.

How are the building blocks of a health system interconnected?

The building blocks of a health system are interrelated and interdependent, meaning a disruption or shock in one area can affect the entire system. For example, a shortage in health inventory can impact the effectiveness of healthcare providers, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to health system management.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Introduction to Health Systems

The script introduces the concept of health systems and their importance in global health. It emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems to meet the health needs of populations, not only by providing services when people are sick but also by preventing illness through various programs. The speaker acknowledges the support of the University of Maryland's graduate school and promotes their online Global Health certificate program. The script then uses a metaphor of a child's Popsicle stand to explain the components of a health system, which include leadership, management, finance, human resources, inventory, infrastructure, and health intelligence.

05:01

📚 Components of Health Systems

This section delves deeper into the components of health systems using the Popsicle stand analogy. Leadership, management, and governance are crucial for setting policy and direction. Health finance involves funding mechanisms like taxation, insurance, and donations. Human resources ensure the right staff ratios are in place. Inventory management is about procuring and managing consumables like medicines and vaccines. Infrastructure includes both physical facilities and technological systems. Health intelligence involves data collection and analysis to support decision-making. The script highlights the interdependence of these components, noting that issues in one area can affect the entire system.

Keywords

💡Health Systems

Health Systems refer to the organized efforts and resources people use to promote, protect, and restore health. In the video, it is described as all the mechanisms, resources, and processes that together meet the health needs of a population. It's not just about treating people when they are sick but also preventing illness and promoting health through various programs and measures.

💡Building Blocks

Building blocks, in the context of the video, are the fundamental components that make up a health system. They include leadership, finance, human resources, inventory, infrastructure, and health intelligence. The video uses a metaphor of a child's popsicle stand to illustrate how each of these elements contributes to the functioning of a health system.

💡Leadership, Management, and Governance

Leadership involves setting the overall policy and direction of a health system, management is about coordinating resources to achieve that vision, and governance is about accountability. In the video, these are likened to the roles and responsibilities of a young entrepreneur running a popsicle stand, emphasizing the importance of clear direction and oversight in health systems.

💡Health Finance

Health Finance pertains to the funding mechanisms that support health systems, including taxation, health insurance, out-of-pocket payments, and donations. The video stresses the importance of a financing system that ensures access to healthcare without causing financial hardship for individuals.

💡Human Resources for Health

This term refers to the workforce required to deliver health services, including the right number and mix of professionals like doctors, nurses, and lab staff. The video uses the example of a popsicle stand needing staff to operate, highlighting the necessity of having adequate and appropriately skilled personnel in health systems.

💡Health Inventory

Health inventory relates to the consumables used by health systems, such as medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines. The video emphasizes the need for robust procurement and supply chain management to avoid stockouts and oversupply, ensuring that the right products are available when and where they are needed.

💡Health Infrastructure

Health Infrastructure encompasses both physical structures like hospitals and clinics and technological systems that support healthcare delivery. The video mentions the need for appropriate facilities distributed according to population needs and the importance of information and communication technology for effective health system operation.

💡Health Intelligence

Health Intelligence involves collecting and using data to support health decision-making at both clinical and policy levels. The video describes it as crucial for informing strategies and ensuring that health systems adapt and improve over time.

💡Preventive Care

Preventive care is about采取措施预防疾病和促进健康生活方式。在视频中，它被强调为健康系统的重要组成部分，不仅仅关注于治疗疾病，还包括通过各种计划和机制来预防人们生病。

💡Popsicle Stand Metaphor

The popsicle stand metaphor is used in the video to simplify the understanding of health systems by comparing them to a small business venture. It helps to illustrate the necessity of various components like leadership, finance, and inventory in both the operation of a popsicle stand and a health system.

💡Global Health

Global Health is the term used to describe the health of populations in a global context. It is the focus of the YouTube channel mentioned in the video, which aims to educate and engage viewers on topics that can contribute to making the world a healthier place.

Highlights

Health systems are mechanisms, resources, and processes that meet the health needs of a population.

Health systems not only provide services when people are sick but also prevent sickness.

The building blocks of health systems include leadership, finance, human resources, inventory, infrastructure, and intelligence.

Leadership in health systems is about setting policy, direction, and vision.

Health finance involves funding operational costs and ensuring access to healthcare without financial catastrophe.

Human resources for health ensure the right number and mix of staff like doctors and nurses.

Health inventory refers to consumables like medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines used daily.

Robust procurement and supply chain management are needed for health inventory.

Health infrastructure includes physical structures like hospitals and clinics, as well as technological systems.

Health intelligence captures and uses data to support health decision-making.

All building blocks of health systems are interrelated and interdependent.

The University of Maryland's graduate school offers an online Global Health certificate.

The one-year certificate program can be applied to a master's degree in Health Sciences.

The Popsicle stand metaphor is used to explain the components of a health system.

Health systems aim to promote healthy life choices and protect people from health hazards.

Healthcare financing systems should ensure access to healthcare without leading to poverty.

Product selection in health inventory involves considering safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness.

The health system's physical infrastructure should be distributed according to population needs.

Health intelligence should inform both clinical and policy decisions in a health system.

Transcripts

we keep hearing the global Health

Community talking about strengthening

Health Systems but what exactly are

Health Systems stay tuned and find out

this is a YouTube channel for people

that are excited about global Health if

that's you and you want to make the

world a better safer healthier place

then this is the place for you please

subscribe if you haven't

before now in this episode we're going

to take a close look at the building

blocks of Health Systems I'm going to

give you a way to remember exactly what

those building blocks are and to

understand exactly how it is that they

work

together but first a big thank you to

the University of Maryland's graduate

school thank you for your support I

couldn't do this without you the

University of Maryland's graduate school

offer a fantastic online Global health

certificate so if you're interested in

studying further but the idea of taking

time out of your career or time with

work is just not possible then doing an

online course is perfect for you and

look I've been in your shoes I wanted to

do an MBA a few years ago and the only

way that I could do it was doing it as a

distance learning online student the

University of Maryland's graduate school

offer a one-year certificate program

which if you want to study further can

be applied to a master's degree in

Health Sciences so if that sounds

interesting to you click on the link in

the description below to find out more

let's talk about Health Systems so what

exactly is a health system so briefly a

health system is all of the mechanisms

and resources and processes that

together meet the health needs of a

population and importantly meeting the

health needs of a population isn't just

about people being able to access health

services when they're sick it's also

about everything that needs to be put in

place to prevent people from getting

sick in the first place things like

programs that are put in place to

promote and facilitate healthy life

choices and mechanisms put in place to

protect people from environmental and

infectious disease

hazards so now we're going to take a

look at what the building blocks what

the components of a health system are

and I'm going to use a little metaphor

that's going to help you understand how

this all fits together when I was about

6 years old I decided as many of you

will have to go into the world of

entrepreneurial capitalism by

establishing a little Popsicle stand on

the pavement outside our house and I

think that the entire Venture LED about

half an hour which was more or less what

my attention span was in those days now

if you can understand the components of

a street side Popsicle stand being run

by a six-year-old then you already know

90% of what you need to know to

understand Health Systems at a country

level so let's first look at what it is

that a Popsicle stand needs firstly you

need a vision you need leadership you

need management and in this case all of

that was me next of course you need

Finance you need some way to finance

your operational costs and in this case

I think between my and my sister's life

savings we had just about enough money

to pay for one or two popsicles that we

were going to sell so you've got your

leadership youve got your Finance in

place the next thing you need is human

resources and for my Popsicle stand it

was really just me and my sister who I

think was very cheap labor if not

completely free the next thing we needed

was inventory right so we've got the

finance and we paying for our human

resources which were quite clearly very

cheap we need to pay for the ongoing

costs of the ingredients of the the

Popsicles themselves we had some fixed

assets or infrastructure and in this

case it was a table and chair generously

donated by my parents and had we been a

successful Popsicle stand we would have

needed a notebook to keep a record of

which flavors of popsicle were most

popular so that we could inform our

future popsicle Sal strategy so now that

you know how to run a Popsicle stand I'm

going to tell you why running a health

system is exactly the same let's have a

look so the building blocks of a health

system are one leadership management and

governance

two Health

Finance three human resources for

health four Health

inventory five Health

infrastructure and six Health

intelligence let's take a closer look at

each of these quickly first of all

leadership management and governance

leadership is about setting the overall

policy the direction the vision of a

health system management is about

coordinating available resources to

achieve that vision and that policy and

governance is about having a transparent

system of accountability Health Finance

is really about where the money comes

from how it is that you find the money

to do the things that you want to do and

how it is that that money is allocated

into the various programs broadly

speaking most health systems are

financed in a combination of five ways

and that is there's there's General

taxation there's social health insurance

there's voluntary or Private health

insurance there's outof pocket payments

and there's donations to Charities most

health systems use a combination of

these five in some shape or form now

ideally what you want from a healthcare

financing system is a way that ensures

that people can Access healthcare and

that people aren't subject to financial

catastrophe or impoverishment there are

places in the world where the number one

reason for going into AB poverty is

unforeseen Health expenses next human

resources for health and this is really

about getting the right number of staff

and the right mix of staff so the right

ratio of doctors to nurses to lab staff

etc etc next inventory now this is

really about the consumables that gets

used up by the health system on a

day-to-day basis things like medicines

Diagnostics vaccines Etc now to get this

right so that you don't have stockouts

and you also don't have over Supply and

and and warehousing problems what you

need is a robust procurement and Supply

Chain management system and this

includes firstly demand forecasting

knowing what's going to what you're

going to need then product selection

which products best meet those needs

then you need to budget you need to

procure you need to sh Warehouse

distribute and have inventory control

management system in place and each one

of those steps can be quite complicated

take product selection for example when

products are selected people need to

take into account the safety the

efficacy and the cost- effectiveness of

those particular products relative to

Alternatives so basically it's

everything that needs to be done to

ensure that the right product is in the

right place at the right time in the

right quantity next infrastructure

firstly there's physical infrastructure

you need to have the right number of

hospitals clinics Laboratories Etc and

you need to have them distributed in the

country in a way that makes sense given

the geographic and de demographic

distribution of the population in that

country and then superimposed upon that

you need technological infrastructure so

things like the right information and

communication technology that's in place

so that the whole system can work

together properly and finally Health

intelligence Health intelligence is

really all about capturing and using

timely and reliable data and information

that will support Health decision-

making and this Health intelligence

should feedback and inform both

day-to-day clinical decision- making and

the overall health policy and strategy

for the country as a whole importantly

all of these building blocks are

interrelated and interdependent if

there's a shock in any one of them all

of them suffer so for example in a

hospital the inventory like the

medicines and Diagnostics and vaccines

and the staff the people the doctors the

nurses only work optimally when they're

both properly in place medicines can't

prescribe themselves and a prescription

when there's a stock out is just a piece

of paper and that is Health Systems in a

nutshell now you're sitting down

anywhere don't go away stay and watch

another

video And subscribe to this channel if

you haven't already leave a comment

below or leave a question below I

promise to respond and again a big thank

you to the University of Maryland's

graduate school for their support thanks

for watching take care