DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL HEALTH POLICIES TODAY:ABOUT THE CONTEXT, THE PROCESS AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AS AN ENABLER
DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL HEALTH POLICIES TODAY:ABOUT THE CONTEXT, THE PROCESS AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AS AN ENABLER

Summary/Abstract: National health policies, strategies, and plans play an essential role indefining a country’s vision, priorities, budgetary decisions and course ofaction for improving and maintaining the health of its people. The developmentof a comprehensive national health policy and strategy is inherently apolitical process, which is complex and dynamic in nature and varies fromcountry to country according to the political, historical, and socio-economiccontext. It is also influenced form regional and global developments.WHO, at global level, has developed a range of resources and tools designedto assist health authorities – at national and sub-national levels – inelaborating health policies, strategies, and plans. These include diagnostictools for assessment, monitoring and evaluation, as well as tools to supportsituation analysis and priority setting, identifying effective strategies,costing scenarios, resource planning and budgeting, and programming andimplementation.Attributes for assessing the strength of a national strategy are: a) Situationanalysis, and coherence of strategies and plans with this analysis(known as ‘programming’), b) Process through which national plans andstrategies have been developed, c) Financing Plans and strategies; financialmanagement and auditing, d) Implementation and management arrangements,and e) Results, monitoring, review and dialogue mechanisms.WHO engages as an important enabler in developing national healthpolicies of today. Supporting the governments in developing evidence informednational health policies, aware of the national, regional and globalcontext and responsibilities, it strives to contribute achieving real improvementsin health when working across government to fulfil two linked strategicobjectives: i) improving health for all and reducing health inequalities,and ii) improving leadership and participatory governance for health.

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