Improving hospital care for children. Case study report Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

2010 Integrated Management of Childhood Illness aims to reduce child mortality and morbidity, and improve healthy growth and development of children. This requires a well-organized health system with high quality of care at all levels, including the referral level. This report summarizes the findings of a survey on the experience of improving hospital care for children in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The findings are presented using a health systems approach that considers stewardship, service delivery, resource creation and financing. Data analysis shows that, to improve the quality of child health services in district hospitals, supporting policies and strategies need to be in place, as well as up-to-date clinical guidelines, well trained staff and the rational use of drugs. The lessons learned from this case study should contribute to further development of strategies to improve delivery of child care at hospital level.