What is a fragile health system, does PNG has all these characteristics?

 

A fragile health system refers to a healthcare system that is inadequate and unable to effectively meet the health needs of a population. It is often characterized by limited access to essential health services, inadequate infrastructure and equipment, a shortage of trained health personnel, insufficient health financing, and weak governance and management structures.

In a fragile health system, people may have difficulty accessing basic health services, and those who do receive care may experience poor quality services. As a result, preventable illnesses and deaths may occur, and health outcomes may be poor.

There are several factors that can contribute to a health system becoming fragile, including political instability, conflict or war, economic crises, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. In some cases, poor governance and corruption can also contribute to the fragility of a health system.

Responsibility for addressing a fragile health system falls on multiple actors, including national governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Solutions to strengthen a fragile health system may include improving health financing mechanisms, strengthening health workforce capacity, improving health infrastructure and equipment, enhancing governance and management structures, and increasing access to essential medicines and technologies.

Overall, addressing a fragile health system requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the complex interplay of social, economic, political, and environmental factors that contribute to health system fragility.

Sources

Kruk ME, Myers M, Varpilah ST, et al. What is a resilient health system? Lessons from Ebola. Lancet. 2015;385(9980):1910-1912. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60755-3

World Health Organization. Health systems strengthening glossary. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2015. https://www.who.int/healthsystems/hss_glossary/en/

World Bank. World Development Report 2017: Governance and the Law. Washington, DC: World Bank; 2017. doi:10.1596/978-1-4648-0955-7

International Rescue Committee. Fragile health systems: What are they and what can be done about them? International Rescue Committee website. https://www.rescue.org/article/fragile-health-systems-what-are-they-and-what-can-be-done-about-them. Published May 1, 2019. Accessed March 26, 2023.

USAID. Health systems strengthening. USAID website. https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/health-systems-strengthening. Accessed March 26, 2023.