Health System Strengthening in Haiti

Haiti’s health systems continue to face complex challenges, including the lack of governance and sector coordination; financial and geographical barriers to accessing health services; and shortages of healthcare workers and essential medicines. Despite some areas of progress, past marginal gains have been undone by the recent succession of crises, including country lock down “peyi lok”, COVID-19 pandemic, the assassination of the President Jovenel Moïse, and natural shocks, such as the August 2021 earthquake. Consequently, Haiti’s health systems are working in the fray of protracted crises. Political unrest, social instability, gang violence, and recurrent fuel shortages have tested the ability of health systems in Haiti to adapt and find new ways to continue providing essential services, such as virtual platforms to complete follow up visits and data collection.