Authors: Azeb Gebresilassie Tesema, PhD ∙ Dulce Osório, MD ∙ Prof Rohina Joshi, PhD
Health systems in wealthy countries are under strain from ageing populations, staff shortages, and rising costs. Community health workers can help by improving access to care, supporting people with social needs, and keeping care connected in the community. While interest in these roles is growing, most programs are small, short-term, and poorly funded. This paper argues that community health workers should be fully built into primary care teams, not treated as add-ons. To make this work, health systems need clear roles, stable funding, and strong political support. Putting communities at the center of care is key to reducing health gaps and improving outcomes.
Download Resource
Resource Topic: CHW programs, health systems
Resource Type: Editorial
Year: 2026
Region: Global
Country:
Publisher May Restrict Access: No