OVERVIEW
The Local Health System Sustainability Activity (LHSS) strengthens the Colombian health system by working with the government to provide sustainably financed, high-quality health services to Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees, and receptor communities. LHSS also improves the Colombian health system’s capacity to respond to current and future shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. LHSS works in nine departments: Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Magdalena, Norte de Santander, Santander, and Valle del Cauca. The activity runs from April 2020 to August 2024.
GOALS
IMPROVE MIGRANT HEALTH RESPONSE AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES
LHSS supports the Colombian Ministry of Health’s (MOH) response to migrant health needs at local and national levels by assisting the MOH to develop policies that integrate migrants into the health system and enhancing access to quality care. This involves assisting newly arrived migrant populations in navigating various services and processes for access, as well as understanding the rights and responsibilities they acquire as new users of the healthcare system. LHSS also strengthens municipal and departmental administrations and community-based organizations’ capacity to implement migrant-related health policies and develop health service communication strategies. From the supply perspective, LHSS collaborates with service providers to strengthen the user experience and access to their services, aiming to improve the quality of essential services for improved health outcomes that benefit the entire community.
SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FINANCING
LHSS helps the MOH, healthcare providers, and municipal and departmental administrations to finance health service delivery by leveraging new resources from the private sector to finance health services for irregular migrants and improving efficiency and risk pooling to optimize health spending. LHSS also works with the Government of Colombia to increase migrants’ enrollment in the public health insurance system.
STRENTHEN HEALTH SYSTEM RESILIENCY
LHSS collaborates with community, public, and private sector partners to strengthen the Government of Colombia’s health system resilience to current and future shocks such as disease outbreaks. LHSS provides technical assistance to strengthen country-level response coordination; epidemiological surveillance; laboratory systems; case management; infection prevention and control; and mental health activities for healthcare workers, migrants, returnees, and receptor communities.
KEY RESULTS
- Increased migrant enrollment and access to critical health services in the Colombian healthcare system;
- Strengthened the Colombian healthcare system to become more resilient, and better respond to shocks;
- Improved sustainable financing and leveraged new resources for essential health services in receptor communities; and
- Increased and sustained migrant, Colombian returnees, and receptor communities’ access to essential and public health services.
| Contact Information |
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| Jadín Vergara |
