Health systems and governance, governing health systems

Governance can be defined as the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority in the management of a country's affairs at all levels. It comprises the complex mechanisms, processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, mediate their differences and exercise their legal rights and obligations. In the context of health system governance, strategic policy frameworks must exist and be combined with effective oversight, coalition building, the provision of appropriate regulations and incentives, attention to system design, and accountability. Beyond these definitions, it is essential to explore the underlying principles that inform health system governance and their practical implementation.