Local government partners aim to increase access to quality, affordable care and maximize impact from resource investments in health.
Characteristics and Strengths
They are often led by locally elected political leaders and are motivated to demonstrate health impacts for continued political support
Tend to be more accountable to local communities
Have a thorough understanding of the local context and health needs of local communities
They often have the legal and administrative mandate to set local health priorities, plan, allocate and mobilize resources, and deliver primary health care to their respective communities
They are guided by national health strategy and community health strategy
They are responsible for managing CHWs
They are often motivated to adopt digital health technologies
May have deployed, or are planning to deploy, digital health tools in the community health space
Comparatively, they have less cumbersome bureaucratic processes and red-tape in building partnerships
Values
Health and well-being of their citizens
Equitable access to quality health care services
Social health protection of their constituencies
Local leadership and decentralization in health
Innovation and digital technologies in community health space
High impact door-step health care
Community participation
Partnerships with non-state actors
Cost-effectiveness
Sustainability
Needs
Health systems strengthening support to keep up with growing population needs and tackle emerging public health challenges, e.g. NCDs
Better institutional capacities to manage community health programs
Regular guidance, coordination and support from the state/provincial and national governments
Better data systems for evidence-based planning and monitoring
Technical partnership and support to manage digital health technologies