Learning for quality health services: A new thematic discussion on HIFA

21 June, 2021

We are delighted to announce a new thematic discussion on the HIFA forums - Learning for quality health services - supported by the WHO Global Learning Laboratory (GLL) for Quality UHC

Quality of health services is critical to achieving universal health coverage (UHC): Between 5.7 and 8.4 million deaths are attributed to poor quality care each year in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for up to 15% of overall deaths in these countries. Improving access to health services must go hand in hand with improving the quality of these services. Further, poor quality health services can decrease people’s trust in the health system. Indeed, there is an urgent need to place quality at the centre of national-, district- and facility-level actions in order to progress towards UHC.

The HIFA discussion will start on 28 June and will continue through to 20 August. We shall explore in depth the following questions (and more):

  • What does quality of care mean to you, in your particular context? Why is it important to make the case for quality of care?
  • From your experience, what might work best to enhance national commitment to quality of care? Have you seen any practical solutions that should be shared wider?
  • From your experience, what are the biggest challenges for district health managers in tackling quality of care issues? Have you seen any practical solutions that should be shared wider? 
  • From your experience, what are the biggest challenges for improving quality of care at the facility level? Have you seen any practical solutions that should be shared wider?

Outputs of the discussion will be synthesized into a learning brief and shared globally through the WHO GLL. 

How to take part: Join a HIFA global health discussion forum: HIFA-English, CHIFA-English (child health), HIFA-French, HIFA-Portuguese, HIFA-Spanish, HIFA-Zambia. (If you are already a HIFA forum member and receiving regular HIFA emails, you do not need to take any further action.)

Download these WHO publications that will help inform our discussions:

Quality health services: a planning guide (2020)
WHO Fact Sheet on Quality Health Services (2020)

Our thanks to the HIFA Quality working group and the HIFA Quality catalyst group for their support. Further information.