Tropical Medicine & International Health
May 2012  Volume 17, Issue 5  Pages 531–682
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-3156/currentissue

Health systems
Disease control and health systems in low- and middle-income countries: enhancing positive interrelation (pages 646–651)
Charles Collins, Miguel Angel Gonzalez Block and Shenglan Tang
Article first published online: 16 MAR 2012 | DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.02968.x

Abstract  [Open Access]
There is a growing interest in improving the relationship between disease control programmes and the rest of the health system in low- and middle-income countries. This short study seeks to contribute to this movement by providing a multi-dimensional approach for policy-makers and researchers. It recognizes the different and often conflicting perspectives in health systems held by stakeholders. Two such perspectives are those of disease control programmes and health systems. Both are based on perceived health needs and put forward requirements on each other through resource demands and organizational needs. Failure to reconcile these perspectives can lead to health system fragmentation. This study proposes a framework to address the importance of mutual support across stakeholder perspectives, striving to understand and analyse the consequences of their reciprocal views. In doing this, the study stresses the importance of common understanding around health system values, the political interplay between stakeholders, the contextual setting and the need to integrate research and capacity development in this area.