We are at an inflection point in healthcare around the globe. People are living longer, healthier lives than ever before, and we are rightly celebrating disease focused programmes. Better diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS and malaria, among others have saved countless lives. Yet, as populations age and we better understand the ripple effects of diseases, such as COVID-19, the limitation of programmes focused on any single disease are increasingly evident.

Policy makers have shifted towards a broader “systems” view, one that seeks to more comprehensively ensure all people have access to essential health services without financial hardship. Within this model, universal health coverage (UHC) has been outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals as the defining approach to improve health globally.

The Health Systems portfolio explores pressing questions on how to maximize investments, improve the quality of healthcare, what drives high health spending and explores broader issues in comparative health system performance. Our team partners with international organizations, world renowned journals and leading researchers to create evidence to better inform policymakers around the world.