Launch of the Networks of Care for maternal and newborn health implementation guidance

Networks of care are an innovative approach to strengthening primary care and maternal and newborn health services. The approach focuses on cultivating relationships among health system stakeholders and strengthening relational elements, such as multidisciplinary teamwork, leadership and communication. Networks of care exist in diverse contexts and geographies. Existing studies on Networks of care have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving quality of care and clinical outcomes for mothers and newborns.

This is the first implementation guidance on Networks of care. The implementation guidance includes:

• A definition of Networks of care for maternal and newborn health
• The structural and relational elements that compose Networks of care
• An overview of the evidence on Networks of care
• Examples of establishing Networks of care
• Key aspect of Networks of care, the relational elements, and approaches to strengthening them
• Networks of care financing
• Considerations for establishing and strengthening a Network of care
• Maintaining and sustaining Networks of care
• Areas for future research on Networks of care 

Welcome and Overview of the Implementation Guidance

Q&A moderated by Dr. Allisyn Moran

Closing Remarks: Dr. Anshu Banerjee, Director, Department for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, World Health Organization.