From Resource to Outcome

Abstract

Governments often create policies that rely on implementation by arm's length organizations and require practice changes on the part of different segments of the healthcare system without understanding the differences in and complexities of these agencies. This research describes components of a health system and explains how they affect outcomes. It argues that implemented policies affect various components of a health system in terms of service delivery, workforce, information, financing, medical products, technologies, leadership, and governance. Using health system as framework of analysis, the chapter explains that the outcome of health policy implementation determines the availability, quality, and equability of program service delivery. The chapter further argues that policy implementation barriers affect the poor and vulnerable groups from benefiting from public spending on public health policies and programs.