Back to Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems
Johns Hopkins University

Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems

Welcome to our course on Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems for Global Health. During the course we will provide you with an overview of the main elements or building blocks of a health system based on the World Health Organization’s guidance. You will have the opportunity to explore four main areas of health systems in global health with particular reference to low and middle income countries. The first area focuses on understanding health service organizations, the challenges. Our second module looks at WHO’s six major building blocks or health systems components with particular reference to primary health care and the need for community participation in planning, delivery and assessment of these systems components. in our third module we examine the specific systems component of human resource development and capacity building. The fourth area consists of health policy making and advocacy with stakeholders. This course is geared toward learners who are already involved in managing health and development programs on the ground in low and middle income countries or who are preparing for such a management role. The main lectures will span a four-week period with approximately 2-4 hours of viewing learning materials per week. We have one peer graded essay wherein you will use skills in ‘organizational’ diagnosis to better understand a challenge in an organization where you are or have worked. There are also quizzes. We hope you will engage with your fellow learners in discussion forums to learn from each other.

Status: Primary Care
Status: Community Health
BeginnerCourse15 hours

Featured reviews

MD

5.0Reviewed Jan 19, 2019

I learned a lot about how to analyze where an organization is struggling in order to create needed changes. Thanks to the instructors!

AO

5.0Reviewed Jul 1, 2019

Logical and educative. Strongly recommended to other public health professionals

LL

4.0Reviewed Apr 16, 2020

Very interesting and broad course with also clear examplesSometimes I wished less repetitionSome technical problems still there (slides/speech matching) but not too impairing for the learning process

H

5.0Reviewed Mar 22, 2020

Very useful information for understanding health care services structure and operations

OA

5.0Reviewed May 22, 2022

Awesome course. My origin is finance but this course took me behind the scenes of the health care system for populatiins just as I wanted. Much appreciated.butinanceE

EM

5.0Reviewed Apr 20, 2020

The training was relevant and practical and now more well equipped with issues of humanitarian crisis. looking forward to crisis two

NK

5.0Reviewed Sep 2, 2018

This a very interesting course highlighting key components in order effectively organize to tackle issues facing health systems at large . I highly recommend it

AA

5.0Reviewed Oct 19, 2018

thank you a lot this course helped me to understand so many about organizations and how the work not just on the public health level

AK

5.0Reviewed Sep 7, 2018

Informative and challenging to re-think current approaches to public health systems strengthening

MO

4.0Reviewed Dec 20, 2018

A very useful and practical course. It delivers practical examples in real life situations.

SP

5.0Reviewed Jan 23, 2021

It was quite enlightening and very understanding as l study the rudimentary principles of achieving success and switching on to a new career in Public Health.

MD

4.0Reviewed Feb 8, 2021

I feel the structure was set up very well, and it did flow. I am hoping to never hear the word guinea worm ever again though. Looking forward to the next course.

All reviews

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Reviewed Jul 21, 2018
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