When do vertical (stand-alone) programmes have a place in health systems? WHO/Europe 2004

Based on the limited evidence available, this policy brief concludes that integrated approaches to delivering health services, compared with vertical approaches, improve outcomes in selected areas including HIV, mental health and certain communicable diseases in several countries. In the eastern part of the WHO European Region, for example, vertical programmes appear to have impaired the effective management of HIV, tuberculosis, substance abuse and mental health.