Back to Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems
Johns Hopkins University

Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems

Welcome to our course on Understanding and Strengthening Health Systems for Global Health. During the course we will provide you with an overview of the main elements or building blocks of a health system based on the World Health Organization’s guidance. You will have the opportunity to explore four main areas of health systems in global health with particular reference to low and middle income countries. The first area focuses on understanding health service organizations, the challenges. Our second module looks at WHO’s six major building blocks or health systems components with particular reference to primary health care and the need for community participation in planning, delivery and assessment of these systems components. in our third module we examine the specific systems component of human resource development and capacity building. The fourth area consists of health policy making and advocacy with stakeholders. This course is geared toward learners who are already involved in managing health and development programs on the ground in low and middle income countries or who are preparing for such a management role. The main lectures will span a four-week period with approximately 2-4 hours of viewing learning materials per week. We have one peer graded essay wherein you will use skills in ‘organizational’ diagnosis to better understand a challenge in an organization where you are or have worked. There are also quizzes. We hope you will engage with your fellow learners in discussion forums to learn from each other.

Status: Public Health
Status: Health Systems
BeginnerCourse15 hours

Featured reviews

NK

5.0Reviewed Sep 3, 2018

This a very interesting course highlighting key components in order effectively organize to tackle issues facing health systems at large . I highly recommend it

MD

5.0Reviewed Jan 20, 2019

I learned a lot about how to analyze where an organization is struggling in order to create needed changes. Thanks to the instructors!

RG

5.0Reviewed Jul 19, 2024

It is an experience going through the course. I have much to relate on the course with the shared other other organizational Diagnosis

LL

4.0Reviewed Apr 17, 2020

Very interesting and broad course with also clear examplesSometimes I wished less repetitionSome technical problems still there (slides/speech matching) but not too impairing for the learning process

MO

4.0Reviewed Dec 21, 2018

A very useful and practical course. It delivers practical examples in real life situations.

AO

5.0Reviewed Jul 2, 2019

Logical and educative. Strongly recommended to other public health professionals

MD

4.0Reviewed Feb 9, 2021

I feel the structure was set up very well, and it did flow. I am hoping to never hear the word guinea worm ever again though. Looking forward to the next course.

AK

5.0Reviewed Sep 8, 2018

Informative and challenging to re-think current approaches to public health systems strengthening

OA

5.0Reviewed May 23, 2022

Awesome course. My origin is finance but this course took me behind the scenes of the health care system for populatiins just as I wanted. Much appreciated.butinanceE

SL

5.0Reviewed Jan 25, 2019

Content was very interesting, a lot of repetition of material helped to get a good understanding of Health Systems. Organizational Diagnosis was very useful.

AA

5.0Reviewed Oct 20, 2018

thank you a lot this course helped me to understand so many about organizations and how the work not just on the public health level

XA

5.0Reviewed Jul 17, 2021

This course gave me a strong starting foundation of health systems and their surrounding variables.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 104

Lily Zihui Zhu
4.0
Reviewed Jul 22, 2018
Dorota Saitzova
3.0
Reviewed May 8, 2020
May Dartez
5.0
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5.0
Reviewed Sep 3, 2018
Tia King
5.0
Reviewed Aug 13, 2020
Guenivere McAllister
2.0
Reviewed Mar 8, 2020
Sandra Huaitalla
5.0
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Stephanie Logsdon
5.0
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Andrew Kazibwe
5.0
Reviewed Sep 9, 2018
Imran Hossain
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4.0
Reviewed Jul 22, 2018
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1.0
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Reviewed Mar 3, 2021
Olal Emma
5.0
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MAKARANON WICHAIPHAN
5.0
Reviewed Nov 18, 2018
Omotayo Jemiluyi (Tayoluyis)
5.0
Reviewed Jul 10, 2023
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Reviewed Oct 20, 2019
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Reviewed Jun 16, 2025
Stanley Saputra
5.0
Reviewed Apr 27, 2020