At the end of 2022, the Local Health System Sustainability project (LHSS) analyzed the development of telemedicine in Ukraine and found a significant increase in the demand for telemedicine services in the previous few years. This was due to a combination of the COVID-19 epidemic and full-scale war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. LHSS supported the Government in drafting and ultimately approving a national Strategy for the Development of Telemedicine in Ukraine. In this strategy, one of the priority tasks was to define and further develop priority telemedicine services. This includes the development of technical models, algorithms, and business processes for interaction during the provision of medical assistance using telemedicine, as well as expansion of the functionality of the central database of the electronic health record system (EHRS) and medical information systems (MIS) in the field of telemedicine. 

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. 

Featured as part of the Closing Ceremony for the Activity in June 2024, this video highlights work of the USAID Health System Sustainability Activity in supporting Timor-Leste build a self-reliant health system that is well-governed, efficient, accountable, and responsive to people’s needs.

Watch the video recording of the Closing Ceremony for the Timor-Leste Activity, which was held in Dili on June 14, 2024.

This Year 5 Quarter 1 Report (Oct-Dec 2023) was prepared for USAID and provides a progress update for all annual work plan activities. 

To explore the use of people-centered metrics in HIV care, a set of six people-centered indicators for HIV care and an indicator survey tool were developed to collect data on the metrics via client interviews. This brief summarizes findings and draws recommendations from an exploratory qualitative study to assess the acceptability, feasibility, integrability, and relevance of both the indicators themselves and the indicator survey tool employed to gather client data.

We are proud to share the LHSS Year 4 Annual Report which highlights the many achievements we celebrated with our country partners this year. 

We are proud to share the LHSS Year 4 Annual Report which highlights the many achievements we celebrated with our country partners this year. 

USAID and the MOH collaborated to improve health workforce management in Timor-Leste, focusing on job descriptions and evaluations. Moving forward, in-person training and institutionalization are recommended for sustainable implementation, aiming to enhance health care services and employee development.

LHSS Colombia collaborated with national and local health authorities to address the mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and mixed migration.

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 describes opportunities to improve financial protection programs using behavior change approaches. The Practice Spotlights Social and Behavior Change series supports USAID’s Vision for Health System Strengthening 2030 by exploring how social and behavior change approaches can contribute to countries’ health system strengthening efforts.

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.

This two-pager focuses on USAID’s Learning Question 6, "What are key behavioral outcomes that indicate a functioning, integrated health system? In what ways can integrated health system strengthening approaches explicitly include social and behavior change?"

This two-pager focuses on USAID’s Learning Question 4, “What are effective and sustainable mechanisms or processes to integrate local, community, sub-national, national, and regional voices, priorities, and contributions into USAID’s health system strengthening efforts?”