Health systems can be described as all that comprises the workforce, facilities, institutions, information, funds, and government policies that achieve preventive and curative services (Global Health). The world health organization on the other hand describes the term as all the activities whose sole objective is aimed at encouraging, restoring, and sustaining health (WHO, 2006). There are six health components identified by the WHO necessary to establish, promote, and strengthen the health system (Global Health).
Key among these is a well-functioning health system. This plays a very big role in the achievement of the millennium development goals. The poor health systems are squarely responsible for the lack of progress in the achievement of the MDGs in most of the countries in the sub-Saharan region. Some of the factors responsible for poor health services in these developing countries include few health workers, inadequate funding, poor management, and poor information systems amongst others.
The evidence of these challenges is seen in the following ways. The countries have very weak health care resulting from a shortage of health care workers, very limited access to public health care services, and a lack of fair and equitable provision of the services. Research on health systems should therefore be aimed at combating these challenges.
References
Global Health, 2010. Web.
World Health Organization (2006). Neglected tropical diseases, Web.