UNDP'S ONLINE COURSE ON ANTI-CORRUPTION IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

Common corruption risks in the health sector

1. Systems Perspective

The chart Corruption in health- systems perspective depicts an overall view of the health sector. In order to achieve the ultimate sector goal (improved health), six different key components need to operate successfully (see WHO 2010). The chart depicts the respective corruption risks that can compromise efficient operation and thus compromise the overall success.

Clearly, the sector is affected by a wide range of vulnerabilities that are not necessarily bound to a single institution or even to the sector itself. Some issues can be addressed through measures to change affected institutions (e.g. informal payments). Yet other issues are part of a deeper problem (e.g. conflicts of interest). Understanding the core of the problem is the basis for designing effective anti-corruption measures. 

This situation – which is not unique to the health sector – shows that a successful global approach to corruption is based on a thorough understanding of the underlying issues. While individual measures can have valuable effects on their respective institutions (as the many case studies and lessons here illustrate), there is additional value in a global sector approach. Though this sectoral approach is increasingly acknowledged in the literature, there are few examples yet of fully sectoral approaches (Hussmann/Fink 2013).

 

Lesson 7 provides more information on different types of anti-corruption measures