02187nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653003900054653005700093653003700150653001900187100001100206700001400217700001600231700001300247700001700260700001300277700001600290245015000306856004800456300000800504490000700512520138800519022001401907       2022                            d  bMDPI AG10aHealth, Toxicology and Mutagenesis10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aUniversal Health Coverage (UHCs)10aHealth systems1 aJaca A1 aMalinga T1 aIwu-Jaja CJ1 aNnaji CA1 aOkeibunor JC1 aKamuya D1 aWiysonge CS00aStrengthening the Health System as a Strategy to Achieving a Universal Health Coverage in Underprivileged Communities in Africa: A Scoping Review  uhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/587/pdf  a5870 v193 a<p>Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as people having access to quality healthcare services (e.g., treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care) they need, irrespective of their financial status. Access to quality healthcare services continues to be a challenge for many people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review to map out the health system strengthening strategies that can be used to attain universal health coverage in Africa. We conducted a scoping review and qualitatively synthesized existing evidence from studies carried out in Africa. We included studies that reported interventions to strengthen the health system, e.g., financial support, increasing work force, improving leadership capacity in health facilities, and developing and upgrading infrastructure of primary healthcare facilities. Outcome measures included health facility infrastructures, access to medicines, and sources of financial support. A total of 34 studies conducted met our inclusion criteria. Health financing and developing health infrastructure were the most reported interventions toward achieving UHC. Our results suggest that strengthening the health system, namely, through health financing, developing, and improving the health infrastructure, can play an important role in reaching UHC in the African context.</p>
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