A/HRC/7/11 page 18 a minimum “basket” of health-related services and facilities; effective referral systems; arrangements to ensure the participation of those affected by health decision-making; respect for cultural difference; and so on. Of course, these requirements also correspond to health good practices. One of the distinctive contributions of the right to the highest attainable standard of health is that it reinforces such health good practices with legal obligation and accountability. D. The “building blocks” of a health system 67. Informed by health good practices, the preceding section outlines the general approach of the right to the highest attainable standard of health towards the strengthening of health systems. This general approach has to be consistently and systematically applied across the numerous elements that together constitute a functioning health system. 68. What are these functional elements of a health system? The health literature on this issue is very extensive. For its part, WHO identifies “six essential building blocks” which together make up a health system:29 (a) Health services. “Good health services are those which deliver effective, safe, quality personal and non-personal health interventions to those who need them, when and where needed, with minimum waste of resources.” Non-personal health interventions include, for example, safe water and adequate sanitation; (b) Health workforce. “A well-performing health workforce is one which works in ways that are responsive, fair and efficient to achieve the best health outcomes possible, given available resources and circumstances, i.e. there are sufficient numbers and mix of staff, fairly distributed; they are competent, responsive and productive”; (c) Health information system. “A well-functioning health information system is one that ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health systems performance and health status”; (d) Medical products, vaccines and technologies. “A well-functioning health system ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, and their scientifically sound and cost-effective use”; (e) Health financing. “A good health financing system raises adequate funds for health, in ways that ensure people can use needed services, and are protected from financial catastrophe or impoverishment associated with having to pay for them”; (f) Leadership, governance, stewardship. This “involves ensuring strategic policy frameworks exist and are combined with effective oversight coalition-building, the provision of appropriate regulations and incentives, attention to system-design, and accountability”. 29 Everybody’s Business … (note 2 above), p. 3.