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Support to health services in Iraq through the health sector reform modernization programme
Iraq pressing ahead with health sector reform modernization programme
15 January 2011 - Amman, As part of the implementation of the Iraq public sector modernization programme (I-PSM) phase one, the Federal Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan region, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted a five-day meeting from 11 to 15 of January 2011 in Amman, Jordan, to discuss and finalize the development of study tools and design for the health system functions and performance, review the health system in Iraq and renew the Government’s commitment to the health sector modernization programme.
The meeting was attended by key policy-makers and senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Higher Education, the Iraqi Parliament, international academia, international WHO staff and consultants and representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF. Also present were core members of the I-PSM programme Ministerial Advisory Committee, as well as members of the Iraqi national study team.
H.E Dr Salih Al-Hasnawi, the former Minister of Health of Iraq and member of Parliament, stressed the importance of this initiative for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and improving the health status of every Iraqi and said “ the Government of Iraq is working in collaboration with WHO to modernize the public sector by adopting a public sector reform strategy for all of government and launching its implementation in three key sectors, health, education and water supply and sanitation, aiming at improving the quality and delivery of services at all levels, including at governorate and district levels”.
During the discussion H.E Dr Tahir Hourami, Minister of Health, Kurdistan region, Iraq, emphasized the importance of capacity-building activities embedded within this initiative and argued that the assistance of UN agencies and other partners to boost the progress in achieving the stated objectives would be crucial to the success of this initiative.
The first three days of the meeting were devoted to an interactive workshop to discuss and finalize the development of study tools and design for the functional review and the health system performance assessment exercises, as well as to discuss and agree on implementation modalities and a timeline for the two studies. During the last two days of the meeting, a policy seminar on health systems strengthening and leadership in Iraq was held with the objectives of renewing the Ministry’s commitment to the health sector modernization programme, allowing an exchange and sharing of global, regional and national experiences in health sector reform and to solicit the visions and expectations of key policy-makers with regard to the reform process.
During the opening of the policy seminar, H.E. Dr Al-Hasnawi said, “The needs and vision of Iraqi citizens are crucial for this important endeavour and the modernization programme needs to take this into consideration.” He further reaffirmed the strong political support and commitment to this process.
Dr Syed Jaffer Hussain, WHO Representative for Iraq, further reiterated the strong leadership and ownership of this process by the Government and reaffirmed that WHO and other partners would provide whatever support, knowledge and tools required by the national study team to effectively carry out the challenging task ahead. He also highlighted the fact that this exercise was an important opportunity for the Government of Iraq to use health as an entry point within the larger framework of development in the country.
It should be noted that this meeting is a follow-up to the recommendations of the first I-PSM meeting that took place in Beirut on October 2010. And it is part of a US$ 55 million four-year programme funded by the United Nations Development Group-Iraq Trust Fund (UNDG-ITF), using various contributions from donors including the European Union.
PR I-PSM available in English | Arabic
The I-PSM programme in Iraq
The I-PSM programme is a US$ 55 million four-year United Nations interagency comprehensive programme funded by the United Nations Development Group-Iraq Trust Fund (UNDG-ITF) with the aim of supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to modernize its public sector with the ultimate goal of improving governance and quality and delivery of services at all levels, including at governorate and district levels.
The programme comprises two discrete phases: Phase 1 (Year 1) focuses on conducting sector evidence-based diagnostics and outlining options and practical steps for the formulation of a national public sector modernization programme based on the findings. The two major diagnostic exercises planned for Iraq are a functional review of the health sector and the health system performance assessment. The second phase (Years 2 to 4) will focus largely on sectoral reforms to strengthen service delivery through a well-articulated reform and modernization road map. In line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), three sectors have been selected to serve as pilots given the readiness and work that has been done by the line ministries (health, education and water and sanitation) involved in these sectors.
Following this, the Iraqi Ministry of Health has established the I-PSM programme Ministerial Advisory Committee who will work with WHO and other partners to facilitate and guide the modernization process. In addition, the Ministry of Health has also nominated a national study team that will work under the umbrella of the Committee to undertake the functional review and health system performance assessment exercises.
Four districts in Iraq nominated to implement the Basic Package of Health Services for Iraq through Integrated District Health System based on Family Practice Approach
21 April 2011, Beirut – Implementation of the basic health service package (BHSP) through improving the performance of district health system based on Family Practice Approach (IDHS-FPA), is a new World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region initiative adopted by the Ministry of Health in Iraq which will be introduced as a pilot in four districts in the country including Baghdad, Kirkuk, Missan and Erbil governorates. The initiatives aims at assuring universal, equitable and efficient access to essential health services for every individual especialy the most vulnerable (childern, women and elderly residing in the catchment area population of a Primary Health Care Facility.
Dr Hassan Hadi Baqer, Director General of Planning and Development in Ministry of Health said “ District health system based on family practice approach is the tier where health care delivery comes into direct contact with community, the strong participatory planning and close and effective communication of all segments of the community at districts level plays a vital role in enhancing the performance of health system at both national and sub-national level. ” and added “The implementation of IDHS-FPA in the selected four districts will provide us with golden opportunity to learn about the demographic and socioeconomic factors, specific challenges affecting the health of population in the targeted districts which will enable us to take timely and appropriate actions to mitigate the negative impact on health services delivery and thus health outcomes”.
Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, Representative of WHO Iraq office acknowledged the timely introduction of the IDHS based on FPA selection by the Ministry of and agreeing to conduct the assessment of the districts by both Ministries of Health in the central and Kurdistan Region and said “this reflects the strong political commitment of government towards this novel initiative in Iraq” Dr. Hussain added “the future of successful primary health care and well-being lies in family practice.”
Dr Aqila Noori, Medical Officer for Health System Strengthening at the WHO office for Iraq highlighted that, “under the strong leadership of Ministry of health the implementation of BHSP through IDHS-FPA will be expanded in phases to include all the population living in the selected districts and building on first phase lesson learned, this initiative will be rolled it out to cover all governorates of Iraq.”
The Ministry of Health of Iraq with cooperation of World Health Organization completed successfully a five days introductory workshop on implementation of Basic Health Service Package through Integrated District Health System based on Family Practice Approach which was held from 16- 21 April 2011 in Beirut . 41 high level government officials from all the 3 levels of government i.e. central MOH in Baghdad and MOH of Kurdistan Regional Government, governorate and the district level participated actively in the workshop. In addition the Representatives from USAID who is working for strengthening Primary Health Care in Iraq as well as representatives from UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees), participated in the workshop. The workshop was facilitated by WHO experts from Regional Office and country offices of Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. The purpose of this workshop was to agree on road map for the implementation of Basic Health Service Package through the IDHS-FPA in Iraq, identify the four districts following standard criteria, identify mechanisms for implementation, discuss and agree on the financial and human resources needs and agree on the contents of the eight assessment tools which will be used to undertake the baseline assessment in the selected districts.
WHO Representative has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to provide all possible technical assistance throughout the course of implementation of this intervention which will be carried out in phases in the selected governorates based on the priorities identified by the MOH during the assessment and planning phases.
PR Basic Health Service Package (BHSP) available in English | Arabic
Country Cooperation Strategy Meeting in Amman
Amman, 20 December 2011 – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), completed a three-day workshop to present the results of the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) for the year 2012-2017. The (CCS) is a medium-term strategic framework that defines (WHO)'s strategic agenda in Iraq. The (CCS) built on the UNDAF, the new National development Plan (NDP) and the Joint Programme Review Mission (JPRM).
Under this strategy, a three-day workshop to analyze and introduce the principles of CCS-Iraq took place in Amman between 18-20 December 2011 with the presence of H.E the Minister of Health Dr. Majeed Hamad Amin, Member of Parliament-Chairperson of Health and Environment Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, Dr. Liqaa Al- Yassin, Senior Deputy Minister of Health for Reconstruction and Donors Affairs, Dr. Essam Namiq, and Head of Health and Environment Committee at the Kurdistan Paliament, Dr. Hasan Sora, along with 21 delegations from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Education, World Health Organization regional consultants and WHO’s experts.
