Implementation of self-care interventions for health and well-being

by World Health Organization

2024 · World Health Organization

Self-care interventions, including for sexual and reproductive health and rights, are among the most promising new approaches to improving health and well-being, both from a health systems perspective and for the users of these interventions. Self-care interventions should be an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, direct interaction with the health system. These interventions are increasingly being acknowledged in global initiatives, including to advance primary health care (PHC) and universal health coverage (UHC). When they are accessible, available, acceptable, and affordable, quality self-care interventions hold the promise of advancing the attainment of UHC. Building upon the latest WHO recommendations and good practice statements, this implementation guidance includes key considerations to support the introduction and scale-up of self-care interventions in countries. In implementing the global recommendations on self-care interventions for health and well-being, countries will need to adapt them to the local context, considering the economic conditions and the existing health services and facilities. This guidance is intended to assist with that process and requires interaction with all health systems building blocks to ultimately improve national health systems in terms of efficiency, responsiveness, more equitable health outcomes, and social and financial risk protection. This guidance is relevant for all settings and should, therefore, be considered as global guidance.

National health workforce accounts

by World Health Organization

2023 · World Health Organization

Several years have passed since the launch of the National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA) in 2017. And following a global pandemic that disrupted healthcare services worldwide, it is an opportune time to reflect on the progress, priorities, gaps, and adaptations of the NHWA. The NHWA has witnessed unprecedented engagement from countries, partners, and all three levels of the World Health Organization, with focal points nominated by most Member States (90%). Thanks to collective efforts, there has been a significant improvement in the availability and quality of health workforce (HWF) data. Standardized measurement approaches, streamlined reporting mechanisms, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders from various sectors, including partner organizations, have played a vital role in this advancement. The data monitored and reported through NHWA has contributed to generating evidence on various policy issues, including HWF shortages, ageing, migration, and inequalities related to gender and subnational disparities. Furthermore, it has shed light on the significant contributions of the HWF in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NHWA has also facilitated the development of key global products, such as the State of the World’s Nursing report, the State of the World’s Midwifery report, as well as several national and regional reports. Since 2017, the World Health Assembly has adopted a series of new resolutions highlighting HWF issues, such as the Strategic Directives on Nursing and Midwifery, the Working for Health Action Plan, and the Global Health and Care Worker Compact, to name a few. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a greater recognition of the role of the HWF for universal health coverage (UHC) and health security. The development of the Roadmap for building national workforce capacity to deliver the essential public health functions, initiatives on non-communicable diseases, community health workers (CHWs), primary health care (PHC), and traditional and complementary medicine, all recognized the centrality of the health and care workforce as well as the need for data and evidence to inform policies and planning. While ensuring continuity in the standardization of HWF statistics and maintaining the legacy of NHWA v1.0, this revision of NHWA incorporates necessary changes and adaptations to accommodate priority data needs for health and care workers (HCWs)-related new initiatives and challenges. The implementation of NHWA remains committed to core principles, which include a systems-strengthening approach, progressive implementation, multi-sectoral governance, and diversification of data sources. This revised version also provides more examples of NHWA data use.

Atlas

by World Psychiatric Association

2005 · World Health Organization

This joint publication by the WHO and the World Psychiatric Association sets out information on psychiatric training and education programmes around the world, based on a questionnaire and other information sources. Topics covered include: training programmes and infrastructure; curricula and teaching methods; evaluation; specialisation and bilateral arrangement; continuing education; licensing and the role of national institutions. It also includes a comparative case study of psychiatric education and training in a high income (Switzerland) and a low income country (Uganda).