I am at #WHA71, the 71st World Health Assembly @WHO. I see a striking pattern that is a major shift in global health: a greater focus on advancing individual systems of care—for primary health, childbirth, surgery, diagnostics—and not just controlling individual diseases. 1/6
To succeed, “vertical” programs (such as polio eradication, HIV treatment, TB care) commonly worked outside existing medical systems, because they are so broken. Expanding the efforts, however, requires making basic systems work. And the world is starting to define how. 2/6
For example, @WHO for the first time identified a list of 113 essential, cost-effective diagnostic tests—from blood sugar levels (for diabetes) to basic blood loss counts to HIV tests—that humans require for long, healthy life. 3/6 mobile.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/hea…
Having a National strategy for stronger primary health care systems is now being recognized as a cornerstone of improving life expectancy and achieving universal coverage. (Um, hello, United States?) 4/6 phcperformanceinitiative.org
For the first time, multiple countries, eg Zambia & Tanzania, are reporting National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plans to close gaps in private and public sector availability and safety of these essential capabilities across the lifespan. 5/6 pgssc.org/national-surgi…
And today, with the 10th anniversary of the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist, @WHO and @wfsaorg for safe anesthesia care for health systems anywhere. 6/6 wfsahq.org/our-work/safet…
Bonus 2 minute video on the tenth anniversary of the WHO Safe Surgery Checklist and its impact saving tens of thousands of lives worldwide each year. @SaferSurgery
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