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Mapping Health Functionaries:
A health system is the sum total of all the organizations, institutions and resources whose primary purpose is to improve health. The combination of resources, organization, financing and management that are organised for delivery of health services to the population. Health entitlements are reached or delivered to citizens through well-functioning health system. The better the functioning or organizing of the health system, the better is the possibility of citizens getting their entitlements easily. A better response to citizens is expected from an optimally functioning health system. |
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Locating Health Functionaries in the Health Systems
A good knowledge of the health system helps in organising the community accountability actions effectively. Accountability is linked with responsibility and therefore, need to know responsibility of providers / officials at various levels to make specific demands and also to follow up issues through various levels of the health system. The knowledge of health systems can be used to build justification and arguments for framing demands, collect information and organise participatory surveys.
Human Resource in the Health System
Health functionaries are an important and critical component of this system. The citizens interact with the health functionaries and in turn it is the morale of the health functionaries that is instrumental in the health infrastructure being useful to people. It is also important to note that health system is hierarchically ordered in terms of knowledge, authority and power. The community generally encounters health functionaries at the lower most level of the health system. However, the health functionaries at this level can deliver optimally within the resources that are available to them. They face enormous challenges from inside and from outside the system and they are the first contact with the community, while in terms of power and authority they are at the lowermost rung of the ladder.
Hence, the levels and kinds of engagement with health functionaries vary. The community which insightfully navigates their relationship at various levels stands better chance of having adequate and timely responsiveness from providers. This engagement may vary from building smooth and functional relationships with individuals to exercising of collective power.
A good knowledge of the health system helps in organising the community accountability actions effectively. Accountability is linked with responsibility and therefore, need to know responsibility of providers / officials at various levels to make specific demands and also to follow up issues through various levels of the health system. The knowledge of health systems can be used to build justification and arguments for framing demands, collect information and organise participatory surveys.
Human Resource in the Health System
Health functionaries are an important and critical component of this system. The citizens interact with the health functionaries and in turn it is the morale of the health functionaries that is instrumental in the health infrastructure being useful to people. It is also important to note that health system is hierarchically ordered in terms of knowledge, authority and power. The community generally encounters health functionaries at the lower most level of the health system. However, the health functionaries at this level can deliver optimally within the resources that are available to them. They face enormous challenges from inside and from outside the system and they are the first contact with the community, while in terms of power and authority they are at the lowermost rung of the ladder.
Hence, the levels and kinds of engagement with health functionaries vary. The community which insightfully navigates their relationship at various levels stands better chance of having adequate and timely responsiveness from providers. This engagement may vary from building smooth and functional relationships with individuals to exercising of collective power.
