The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations (ECSPP) met in Geneva from 16 to 20 October 2017.Dr Suzanne R. Hill, acting Assistant Director of the Health Systems and Innovation Cluster and Director of the Department of Essential Medicines and Health Products (EMP) at WHO, welcomed the participants on behalf of the new WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Dr Hill emphasized the vision of Dr Tedros for “a world in which everyone can live healthy, productive lives, regardless of who they are or where they live”. His strategic leadership aims for an enhanced and independent WHO to take a science-led and innovationbased approach to making health care available to people everywhere. WHO Member States are full and equal partners in this process, and the Organization will guide them in making the decisions that will affect the health of their populations.
The government policy on health is to ensure that all Ugandans have access to high quality and affordable health care so as to contribute to social and economic development. Accordingly, the Mission of the MOH is to provide the highest level of health services to all people in Uganda through delivery of promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative health services at all levels Our vision is to facilitate the attainment of a good standard of health by all people of Uganda in order to promote a healthy and productive life The sector intends to achieve the above by putting emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention and increasing access to health facilities.
The annual monitoring focused on four Ministry of Health (Vote 014) projects namely; Uganda Health Systems and Strengthening (UHSSP-Project 1123), Support to Rehabilitation of Mulago Hospital (Project 1243), Rehabilitation and equipping of health facilities in the West (1314) and construction of the Neonatal Maternal Unit (Project 1315). Other votes monitored were Mulago National Referral Hospital (Project 0392), Uganda Heart Institute (vote115), Uganda Cancer Institute (Vote 114). Seven Regional Referral Hospitals (Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Kabale, Masaka, Mbarara and Moroto) and Primary Health Care Development grants in 14 local governments
The health sector comprises a number of votes responsible for different aspects of service delivery. The Ministry of Health (Vote 014) is the central agency in charge of policy analysis and formulation, strategic planning, provision of nationally coordinated services such as emergency preparedness, health research, monitoring and evaluation of the overall health sector performance2.
As the Covid-19 pandemic got under way, the world had been reaching unprecedented heights on the Human Development Index (HDI). People were, on average, living healthier, wealthier and better lives for longer than ever. But under the surface a growing sense of insecurity had been taking root. An estimated six of every seven people across the world already felt insecure in the years leading up to the pandemic (figure1). And this feeling of insecurity was not only high—it had been growing in most countries with data, including a surge in some countries with the highest HDI values.
As the Covid-19 pandemic got under way, the world had been reaching unprecedented heights on the Human Development Index (HDI). People were, on average, living healthier, wealthier and better lives for longer than ever. But under the surface a growing sense of insecurity had been taking root. An estimated six of every seven people across the world already felt insecure in the years leading up to the pandemic
Globally, concerns about declining public service delivery have put Governments at a critical point of the national sustainable development agendas. There has been rediscovery of the role of public institutions in the drive for sustainable development and democracy. There is no doubt that public service provides a critical role in state building and service delivery.
The World Health Organization developed the Handbook on health inequality monitoring: with a special focus on low- and middle-income countries to provide an overview for health inequality monitoring within low- and middle-income countries, and act as a resource for those involved in spearheading, improving or sustaining monitoring systems.
The handbook was principally designed to be used by technical staff of ministries of health to build capacity for health inequality monitoring in World Health Organization Member States; however, it may also be of interest to public health professionals, researchers, students and others. We assume that the users of this handbook have basic statistical knowledge and some familiarity with monitoring related issues.
Cabinet Decisions are key mechanisms through which Government directs Ministries to implement policy positions. However, it has been established that they are not subjected to structured and systematic quality assurance to ascertain their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and achievement of the desired impact. As a result, there was need for adequate evidence to inform and guide better implementation, outcomes and impact of Cabinet Decisions on the lives of the citizens and transformation of the country.
From the reviews of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) submissions to Cabinet, a number of gaps were identified. The gaps included; poor problem identification, poor options analysis and poor structuring of some reports which had resulted into selection of inefficient, ineffective and irrelevant options to address citizens’ concerns. The gaps were attributed to the inadequate capacity of the Policy Analyst Cadre. Resultantly, a refresher training was organized for the Policy Analyst Cadre in carrying out RIA so that their capacity could be enhanced.
All types of work are hazardous and persons at work are exposed to situations that may result into injury, disease or even death. While the economic cost is high, public awareness of safety and health tends to be quite low. All too frequently the subject does not get the priority it merits and the health sector is no exception.
Workplace refers to any situation or location where an individual is involved in meaningful employment to earn a living. It covers both the formal places such as health facilities and offices; and the informal places such as the home, when health workers go to provide outreach services.
A customer/client service charter is a set of standards that an organisation promises to uphold when dealing with customers. A customer/client charter publically sets out a number of minimum standards that citizens/ clients should expect when accessing public services. The clients’ Charters greatly help to focus the work of the public sector on citizens’/customers’ needs, transparency and promoting efficiency.
