PHA-Exchange> Health leaders from developing countries commit tolaunch Health Systems Action Network

[Claudio]

From: "Cavin Otieno" <cotienoo at catholicchurch.or.ke>

[PHM WAS REPRESENED IN THIS MEETING].

Health leaders from developing countries commit to launch Health Systems 
Action Network
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Thirty-one (31) health systems leaders from all regions of the world have 
agreed to launch a Health System Action Network (HSAN) to increase 
understanding at both the global and country level of the importance of 
strong health systems to achieve urgent health priorities. HSAN will share 
what is known across countries by linking health systems leaders through a 
global network and will provide input to global and donor initiatives so 
that programmes best serve country priorities.

A meeting August 18-19 in Toronto, Canada drew policymakers, clinicians, 
economists, human resource professionals, pharmacists, and journalists 
chosen through a highly competitive international process from over 400 
applications to discuss health systems strengthening needs not being met by 
other initiatives.  Participants came from Bangladesh, Chile, Costa Rica, 
Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Russia, 
Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, and 
Uganda and represented the public and private sectors, academia, civil 
society, and the media.  They were selected for their vision, the quality of 
their ideas, and their potential to champion the development of the network.

The group concluded that there is no current platform for developing 
countries' health system stakeholders to influence and provide input into 
the priorities and practices of global health initiatives.

"Coordination across the spectrum is needed now more than ever," said a 
founding member of the network. "We need information on what works to 
strengthen health systems, technical resources to support country level 
efforts, and opportunities to share and learn with others grappling with 
similar challenges. HSAN will be a global network that will fill these 
gaps."

Participants agree that HSAN will be a leading Global Network facilitating 
the development of equitable, accountable, and sustainable health systems 
for improved health outcomes. In its first 2 years, HSAN will educate 
stakeholders and will advocate for investing in strong health systems, 
enhance access to information about what works, link together country based 
health systems leaders across the globe, and will develop a system to 
measure, track, and compare country progress toward strengthening their 
health systems. A steering committee was formed and a plan of action 
determined to carry forward the vision of HSAN.

The need to focus on health systems strengthening was identified at a World 
Health Organization-led meeting of donors and advocates in Montreux, 
Switzerland in 2005.