Final answer:
Paul Farmer ensured health system efficacy during his absence by training local health workers within a sustainable, community-based care model. His approach also included integrating with local health structures and addressing social determinants of health for systemic improvements.
Step-by-step explanation:
To maintain the effectiveness of his health system in his absence, Paul Farmer implemented a model of community-based care that empowers local health workers. By training and entrusting local staff, Farmer's organization, Partners in Health (PIH), could ensure continuity of care even when he was not present. This approach involves a comprehensive training program for community health workers, ongoing support systems, and a sustainable model that integrates with local health structures and resources, ensuring that quality care is delivered and health outcomes are monitored.
Additionally, Farmer advocates for equity in healthcare, emphasizing that a collaborative effort with local professionals and the involvement of the community are necessary for a robust healthcare delivery. His vision extends to tackling the underlying social determinants of health, which involves engaging with political, social, and economic elements to create systemic changes that sustain health improvements beyond the clinic.