Dr. Christopher Simoonga

Director - Directorate of Policy and Planning

Ministry of Health, Zambia

International Launch of the Zambian National Health Strategic Plan

7th February 2012, BMA - London

Theme

“Towards attainment of health related Millennium Development Goals and Other National Health Priorities in a clean, caring and competent environment ”

MISSION, VISION, OVERALL GOAL & KEY PRINCIPLES

Mission Statement:

 

To provide equitable access to cost effective, quality health services as close to the family as possible

Vision: A Nation of Healthy and Productive People

Overall Goal:

 

To improve the health status of people in Zambia in order to contribute to socio-economic development

Key Principles: Primary Health Care (PHC) approach; Equity

of access; Affordability; Cost-effectiveness; Accountability; Partnerships; Decentralisation and Leadership, Clean, Caring and Competent health care environment

Conceptual Framework of Health Systems Used– the Six Building Blocks Approach

Infant Mortality Rate, 1992 to 2007

Under five mortality rate 1992 to 2007

Maternal mortality ratio 1996 to 2007

SERVICE DELIVERY

Two Thematic Areas

1. District Health Services

2. Hospital Referral Services

Focus on three Cs of Quality of Care:

1. Clean

2. Caring

3. Competent

MEDICAL SUPPLIES directions cont.

Focus: Zero Stock outs

Strategies:• Monitor availability at all times • Streamline the procurement process• Strengthen logistics of distribution

HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH cont. Focus: Recruitment and Retention

Strategies: Scale up recruitment and retention Strengthen human resource management Increase training and staff development

MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Focus: maintenance, rehabilitative and expansion

Strategies:• Invest in repair and reconstruction • Increase number of health posts• Build limited number of first referral level

hospitals

HEALTH INFORMATION AND RESEARCHs cont

Focus: Use of research evidence for policy

–making

Strategies:• Develop and apply a communication strategy • Strengthen policy dialogues• Increase scope and access to the Health

Management Information System (HMIS)• Establish a Research Authority

HEALTH CARE FINANCING

Focus: improving financing access to

health services

Strategies Abolish fees for primary health care services Create a health assurance fund (HAF) Encourage individual use of health insurance

services

Focus:

Implement an efficient and effective

decentralised system of governance, ensuring high standards of transparency and accountability at all the levels of the health sector

Leadership and Governance Strategic directions cont.

StrategiesStrengthening the overall legal and policy framework for healthStrengthen sector collaboration mechanisms: Review and update the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with sector partners and civil society; incorporate IHP+ principles into the MOU; and further strengthen the Joint Annual Reviews (JAR). Strengthening leadership, management and governance systems and structures, to enhance transparency and accountability at all levels, in accordance with the jointly agreed governance action plan and the recently conducted systems audits. Strengthen access to information at all levels, especially the community level.

The End