CHAPTER TWO ealth ystems Perform Better health is unquestionably the primary goal of a health system. But because health care can be catastrophically costly and the need for it unpre dictable, mechanisms for sharing risk and providing financial protection are important. A second goal of health systems is therefore fairness in financial contribution. a third goal responsiveness to people's expecta tions in regard to non-health matters-reflects the importance of respecting people's dignity, autonomy and the confidentiality of information. WHO has engaged in a major exercise to obtain and analyse data in order to assess how far health systems in WHO Member States are achieving these goals for which they should be accountable, and how efficiently they are using their resources in doing so. By focusing on a few universal functions that health systems undertake, this report provides an evidence base to as sist policy-makers improve health system performanceHow Well do Health Systems Perform? 21 CHAPTER TWO
ow ell do
ealth ystems erform ? Better health is unquestionably the primary goal of a health system. But because health care can be catastrophically costly and the need for it unpre￾dictable, mechanisms for sharing risk and providing financial protection are important. A second goal of health systems is therefore fairness in financial contribution. A third goal – responsiveness to people’s expecta￾tions in regard to non-health matters – reflects the importance of respecting people’s dignity, autonomy and the confidentiality of information. WHO has engaged in a major exercise to obtain and analyse data in order to assess how far health systems in WHO Member States are achieving these goals for which they should be accountable, and how efficiently they are using their resources in doing so. By focusing on a few universal functions that health systems undertake, this report provides an evidence base to as￾sist policy-makers improve health system performance. 21