5. Public Health Policies, Programs, and Issues

World Bank Public Health — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-18 16:05

Public health knowledge, advisory services, and capacity building are key instruments for development effectiveness. The major public health functions which are discussed in the "Public Health and World Bank Operations" strategy note are: * policy development; * creating and disseminating evidence for health policies, strategies and actions * prevention and control of disease; * multi-sectoral action for better health * human resource development and capacity building The Bank's roles in public health are: manage and disseminate knowledge on public health and public health functions; conduct analytic work related to public health functions; engage in global health initiatives that will help countries make measurable progress towards their HNP goals; build capacity for poverty reduction, and; improve Bank and client performance.

Bottom’s up: To the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Health and Health services — by Jeffrey Hammer — last modified 2007-06-20 15:46

This Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of on-going social development analysis and practice at the World Bank. Topics include participation and civic engagement, conflict prevention and reconstruction, community-driven development, and social analysis and policy. These reports have had an important impact in disseminating cutting edge research and experience and among development practitioners, governments and civil society across different regions of the world. Published by Social Development Department the World Bank in 2006.

Public–private partnerships for hospitals — by Martin McKee — last modified 2007-06-20 15:50

Drawing on the experience of countries such as Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom, this paper reviews the experience with variants of this model. Although experience is still very limited and rigorous evaluations lacking, four issues have emerged: cost, quality, flexibility and complexity. New facilities have, in general, been more expensive than they would have been if procured using traditional methods.

Facing the health worker crisis in developing countries: a call for global solidarity — by Mohga Kamal Smith — last modified 2007-06-20 15:54

Bulletin of the World Health Organization, June 2006. There is no doubt that health workers are the cornerstone fo functioning health systems. Chronic under-funding of health systems in developing countries has lead to the current health worker crisis...

USAID - Global Health — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:13

USAID programs in global health represent the commitment and determination of the US government to prevent suffering, save lives, and create a brighter future for families in the developing world. USAID's commitment to improving global health includes confronting global health challenges through improving the quality, availability, and use of essential health services.

Global Health - Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:15

The foundation is guided by the belief that all lives, no matter where they are lived, have equal value. The mission of our Global Health program is to encourage the development of lifesaving medical advances and to help ensure they reach the people who are disproportionately affected. We focus our funding in two main areas: * Access to existing vaccines, drugs, and other tools to fight diseases common in developing countries * Research to develop health solutions that are effective, affordable, and practical

Global Health Council — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 15:34

The Global Health Council is the world's largest membership alliance dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. Membership is comprised of health-care professionals and organizations that include NGOs, foundations, corporations, government agencies and academic institutions that work to ensure global health for all.

Healthfinder — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:16

Healthfinder is an award-winning Federal Web site for consumers, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with other Federal agencies. Since 1997, healthfinder� has been recognized as a key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet. healthfinder� links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations.

Global health.gov — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:17

Represents the Department to other governments, other Federal Departments and agencies, international organizations, and the private sector on international and refugee health issues. It aims to promote the health of the people of the world by advancing the Department of Health and Human Services' global strategies and partnerships, thus serving the health and well-being of the people of the United States.

World Health Organization (WHO) — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:20

The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.

US Department of Health and Human Services Web Portal: www.health.gov — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:24

www.health.gov is a portal to the Web sites of a number of multi-agency health initiatives and activities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other Federal departments and agencies.

Health-EU-Public Health Thematic Portal — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2006-12-11 00:25

Portal is to provide European citizens with easy access to comprehensive information on Public Health initiatives and programmes at EU level. The portal is intended to help meet EU objectives in the Public Health field, it is an important instrument to positively influence behaviour and promote the steady improvement of public health in the 25 EU Member States.

The World Health Report 2006 — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2007-01-04 19:46

The World Health Report 2006 - Working together for health contains an expert assessment of the current crisis in the global health workforce and ambitious proposals to tackle it over the next ten years, starting immediately. The report reveals an estimated shortage of almost 4.3 million doctors, midwives, nurses and support workers worldwide.

The World Health Report 2005 — by Stanzin Tonyot — last modified 2007-01-04 20:16

The World Health Report 2005 – Make Every Mother and Child Count, says that this year almost 11 million children under five years of age will die from causes that are largely preventable. Among them are 4 million babies who will not survive the first month of life. At the same time, more than half a million women will die in pregnancy, childbirth or soon after.