This review of the "best buys"in the health, nutrition, and population portfolio, FY93-99,shows that content, as well as process must receiveattention in health systems development, in order to achieveincreased access to quality health services. The reportsuggest that significant gains can be made, and measuredwithin lending, by increasing efforts to identify, andinvest in the best buys. It describes the Bank's mixedlending for the best buys, ranging from direct support topublic health, and clinical services (i.e., investment indisease control programs), to health systems strengthening(i.e., investment in surveillance, and pharmaceuticalsystems, managerial and technical capacity building) thatindirectly support delivery of basic services.Recommendations suggest linking the guidelines of thisreview to the knowledge management system, and training inbasic public health, and Poverty Reduction Strategy work.Moreover, an in-depth review of data at the regional level,could explicitly define options for inclusion of best buysin project implementation, based on case studies that showthe role of process, and content in selecting, and settingpriorities for best buys.
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