Primary health care service delivery redesign for the COVID 19 new normal

Project Details

The aim of the study is to review the main approaches to service redesign by health systems in the Western Pacific and globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing mainly at the primary care level (including community-based approaches) and public health activities.

The objectives of the research are to:

1. Prepare a report on primary care service redesign for the ‘new normal’, drawing on a review of the literature on health service delivery challenges, and design and adaptation in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
2. Prepare a policy brief(s) on approaches and options for service design in the ‘new normal’ (i.e. during and post COVID-19).  This brief will be targeted at Member States of the Western Pacific Region to guide reform efforts to adapt to the new normal while maintaining the drive to achieve the goal of universal health coverage as enshrined within the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. Prepare a policy brief on experiences and innovations in strategic purchasing, with a focus on (mixed) provider payment mechanisms.

This research comprises a review of the literature and a cross-sectional study of WPRO country offices.  The following details the methods of the review.

1. A scoping exercise to inform the study design
2. A narrative synthesis of the literature
3. A survey of WPRO Country Offices
4. A series of case studies

Researchers

Project lead

Dr Daniel Strachan, Senior Technical Advisor

Project team

• Dr Louise Freijser, Research Fellow
• Dr Matthew Reeve , Senior Technical Advisor
• Dr Naveen Tenneti, Technical Advisor
• Project advisors
• Katherine Gilbert
• Dr Kris Hort

Funding

The project is funded by WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO)

Research Outcomes

POLICY BRIEF

Primary health care (PHC) is a central pillar of every health system and there is thus considerable interest in evidence for how PHC systems have adapted to COVID-19. This policy brief draws on evidence from a review of global literature and interviews with health system analysts and thought leaders in the WPR.

Download the policy brief