|
|
|
|
|
|
Joint Project CDC/PAHO: Performance Measurement of Essential Public Health Functions
in Latin America and the Caribbean
|
|
Project Description
|
|
A recent study by the
World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that it
is possible for global consensus to be achieved on a set of Essential
Public Health Functions. Many developed countries are already developing
their own core essential functions or services in an attempt to better
define the role and image of public health. Essential public health functions
provide a framework on which to build a public health delivery system. These
functions can be prioritized according to the national context and an efficient
delivery system based on a well-organized approach, designed around them. Reasons
for reforming the health care systems along these lines vary but chief amongst
them is the accountability to policy makers for a defined set of services which
can be budgeted for by a finite amount of resources. This approach to public
health is important to developing regions of the world where limited resources
have to be utilized without sacrificing issues of equity of finance and assuring
equal accessibility to health care, especially for vulnerable populations. In this
region, limited financial resources have to be used in such a way as to yield the
greatest equity and efficiency in health care delivery as well as a better
coordination among public, private and social security health care providers.
The National
Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) has partnered
with the Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) to share expertise in the area
of performance measurement and development of standards in public health practice.
A common vision emerged from the collaborative exercise by sharing the concept of
essential public health services as visioned by the United States with that of
PAHO's research of essential public health functions. One of the main objectives
of this vision has been to design a measurement tool suitable for use throughout
the Americas to assess the current capacity of public health infrastructure at a
regional level. The tool was pilot tested in Bolivia, Jamaica and Colombia and
over the period of 1 year was applied in 41 countries of the region (see What's
New section). Data on the public health systems in these countries has been
published in a joint CDC/PAHO publication entitled "Public Health in the
Americas". Both the instrument and the measurement methodology was received
enthusiastically by all countries. In addition to measuring public health
performance, the use of this framework helped many countries to define a national
role for public health, helping them to formulate more effective national level public
health programs and initiatives within national contexts. The instrument also provided
each country with a national focus for developing optimal standards of public health
practice. The collaboration project has played an important role in the PAHO "Public
Health in the Americas" initiative. This initiative will be one of major benefit to both
CDC and PAHO. A meeting will be held later in 2002 to determine the next steps in this
project, including the planning of strategic interventions to enhance public health delivery.
Plans are also in the pipeline to develop a similar measurement methodology for public
health systems in use at the regional and local levels.
To further facilitate this collaborative role, the WHO has designated
The Public Health
Practice Program Office (PHPPO) at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Public Health Practice. The
center will focus on sharing the wide base of expertise available through PHPPO with
initiatives in other countries and international health organizations in the area of
performance measurement and development of standards for public health. The center will
facilitate and accelerate the development and implementation of these initiatives and
do much to formulate a common framework that not only defines the role of public health
but also sets optimal standards for health systems globally. The NPHPSP is already
exercising a leadership role in measuring the public health capacity and infrastructure
in the United States. It is anticipated that by collaborating with other countries and
agencies, performance measurement of public health systems will play an expanded role
and improve the practice of public health on a global scale.
|
|
|
This page last reviewed: August 17, 2004
|
|