With increased migration around the world posing unique challenges and opportunities for health systems, efforts to better integrate and include migrants and host communities in national health systems are an integral part of the global health equity agenda. 

This brief introduces the social determinants of health (SDOH) concept and terminology, and discusses approaches to addressing SDOH. Understanding these root causes of health inequities and their impact on health care access, quality, and equity is crucial to strengthening health systems.

The 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR 2024) will be held in Nagasaki, Japan, from November 18 to 22, 2024.

This brief introduces collaborative learning as an effective approach to support sustainable health system strengthening. Collaborative learning brings together local leaders and experts to learn from one another, problem-solve, co-create new knowledge, and adapt and apply their learning.

Three LHSS experts discuss what a resilient health system looks like, and how countries can shift from reacting to health emergencies to building in preparedness.

This report documents a rapid assessment of the Honduran context to expand SHP for women and children in high-migration contexts, including women and children at risk of migration, returned migrants from the United States, and migrants in-transit through Honduran territories on their migration journey.

LHSS conducted a desk review to inform understanding of the Honduran context for expanding social health protection to women at risk of migration, as well as other vulnerable populations.

LHSS conducted a desk review to inform understanding of the Honduran context for expanding social health protection to women at risk of migration, as well as other vulnerable populations. 

The purpose of the assessment, conducted in 2021 by Two Oceans in Health for the LHSS Latin America and Caribbean Activity, was to understand the Dominican Republic context for expanding social health protection to migrant women.

LHSS provides technical assistance to the Dominican Republic, and this five-year roadmap outlines a strategic vision, objectives, and initiatives for reaching the final milestone of expanded insurance and standardized health service packages for migrant women residing in or transiting through the Dominican Republic.

LHSS activity in the Dominican Republic during its first year of implementation and detailed steps to pilot initiatives that aim to improve SHP for migrants (including women) in the Dominican Republic

This landscape analysis report on Social Health Protection for Women in High-Migration Contexts provides LHSS-LAC, USAID, national governments, regional stakeholders, and other development partners with an inventory of country experiences and strategies for improving access to social health protection (SHP) for women migrants and women at risk of migration.

For countries facing a large influx of migrants, the best way to ensure that these new members of society have sustained access to essential health services is to have a long-term strategy – one that builds on existing health platforms.

The events of the past 18 months underscore the importance of generally strong, equitable, and accessible health systems. COVID-19 is not the only threat we face, and as we prepare for the future it is critical that we begin to sufficiently invest in the foundational health system strengthening required to develop lasting resilience.