A proposal on how the Centre for Progressive Health Financing can help improve the delivery of pro-poor health services in Liberia

The provision of quality and accessible health services to improve the country’s health status is a stated priority of the Government of Liberia. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH) has made considerable progress. One major achievement has been the policy of providing a Basic Package of Health Services free of charge to the entire population. However, there are signs that a few systemic problems are undermining the success of the free services policy.

This document outlines proposed reforms and the benefits of these. To assist, the Centre for Progressive Health Financing CPHF could:

• Assess financing needs and resources to make recommendations for closing the funding gap
• Help the MoH find additional financial resources both from domestic sources but also from international donors
• Recommend specialist consultants (for example in the areas of pay-roll cleaning, communications and project management) with a proven track record of delivering results in this area
• Provide intermittent support to the MoH health budgeting cycle
• Provide specialist advice in the area of pro-poor health financing
• Help project manage a re-launch of the free health services initiative

Full Report: A proposal on how the Centre for Progressive Health Financing can help improve the delivery of pro-poor health services in Liberia [PDF- 170 KB]

Insight on Free Health Care Launch in Sierra Leone

This report describes the Presidents launch of free health care in Sierra Leone. The President is credited for the majority of the launch but DFID Sierra Leone were at the heart of the reforms. The huge increase in the use of services confirms earlier research that patient fees had indeed been excluding vulnerable groups from the country’s health facilities.

Full Report: Insight on Free Health Care Launch in Sierra Leone [PDF- 630 KB]

Improving the Access of Poor and Vulnerable Communities to Health Services in Northern Uganda

This assessment and proposal is based on improving access to effective health care for the estimated 1.3 million people living in the Acholi sub-region of Northern Uganda. Stakeholders highlighted inadequate supplies of basic medicines as the greatest problem inhibiting access to effective health care. Public sector providers are active in the region but there is a concern amongst both providers and politicians that the existence of patient fees at these units acts as an access barrier to the poor and vulnerable. It is evident that many providers would like to reduce or eliminate fees but this would not be feasible given their limited financial resources.

It is therefore recommended that DFID Uganda invests in a dual track approach to improving access to health services in the Acholi sub-region. The main objectives of this programme would be to:

1)    Improve the availability of essential medicines in both Government and PNFP health facilities

2)    Enable public sector providers to eliminate fees at the point of delivery, either for the entire population or at least for pregnant women and children.

Full Report: Improving the Access of Poor and Vulnerable Communities to Health Services in Northern Uganda [PDF- 200 KB]