Judging Health-Sector Performance: Ethical Theory

Abstract Background: Contextualised evidence to generate local solutions on the progressive path to universal health coverage is important. However, this evidence must be translated into action. Knowledge translation (KT) experts have highlighted plausible mechanisms to foster the uptake of evidence. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which structures are in place to foster uptake of evidence, in countries of the WHO African Region. Methods: Employing a cross sectional survey we collected data on the availability of structures to foster uptake of evidence into policy in the 35 member states of WHO African region. Data were analysed using a simple counting of the presence or absence of such structures. Results: Less than 50% of countries had evidence collation and synthesis mechanisms. The lack of such mechanisms presents a missed opportunity to identify comprehensive solutions that can respond to heath sector challenges. Close to 50% of countries had KT platforms in place. However, the availability of these was in several forms, as an institution-based platform, as an annual event to disseminate evidence and as a series of conferences at the national. In some countries, KTs were mainstreamed into routine health sector performance review processes. Several challenges impacted the functionality of the KT platforms including inadequate funding and lack of dedicated personnel. Regarding dissemination of evidence, sharing reports, scientific publications and one-off presentations in meetings were the main approaches employed. Conclusion: The availability of KT platforms in the WHO African countries can be described as suboptimal at best and non-existent at the worst. The current structures, where these exist, cannot adequately foster KT. Knowledge translation platforms need to be viewed as sector wide platforms and mainstreamed in routing health sector performance review and policy making processes. Funds for their functionality must be planned for as part of the health sector budget. Dissemination of evidence needs to be viewed differently to embrace the concept of “disseminate for impact”. Further, funding for dissemination activities needs to be planned for as part of the evidence generation plan.

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Citizen participation in accountability to health management in Cali, Colombia

Colombia Medica ◽

10.25100/cm.v40i1.631 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 95-102

Author(s):

Janeth Mosquera ◽

Alejandra Gutiérrez ◽

Mauricio Serra

Keyword(s):

Social Control ◽

Community Participation ◽

Citizen Participation ◽

Latin American ◽

Health Management ◽

Health Sector ◽

Community Leadership ◽

Public Health Workforce ◽

Social Actors ◽

Sector Performance

Background: In Latin American for improving health sector performance and for decreasing corruption process, a social control initiatives like accountability process are been realized by social actors involved in health sector. Objectives: To describe and to analyze accountability to health management process with the involvement of health services consumers. Methodology: A pilot control social experience was developed in Cali with community participation in an accountability experience. Three public accountability experiences were developed. A methodology proposal was design to achieve community participation in accountability process. Results: 745 persons, indirectly, and 54 community leaders of Consumer Association of health local services of Cali, directly, were wrapped up. They had technical support in two out of the three accountability meetings carried out. In each stage was identified technical and methodological weakness in the accountability process. Conclusions: Despite of an understanding of the accountability process in health was improved, the experience showed some obstacles such as: difficulties in the access of information, low community leadership in social control issue and resistance of public health workforce to see their performance in health sector as a matter to be account.

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Knowledge translation in Africa: are the structures in place?

Implementation Science Communications ◽

10.1186/s43058-020-00101-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

James Avoka Asamani ◽

Juliet Nabyonga-Orem

Keyword(s):

Knowledge Translation ◽

National Level ◽

Health Sector ◽

Health Coverage ◽

African Region ◽

African Countries ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Scientific Publications ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sector Performance

Abstract Background Contextualised evidence to generate local solutions on the progressive path to universal health coverage is essential. However, this evidence must be translated into action. Knowledge translation (KT) experts have highlighted the plausible mechanisms to foster the uptake of evidence. The objective of this study was to assess the extent to which structures are in place to boost uptake of evidence, in countries of the WHO African Region. Methods Employing a cross-sectional survey, we collected data on the availability of structures to foster the uptake of evidence into policy in 35 out of the 47 member states of the WHO African Region. Data were analysed using a simple counting of the presence or absence of such structures. Results Less than half of the countries had evidence collation and synthesis mechanisms. The lack of such mechanisms presents a missed opportunity to identify comprehensive solutions that can respond to health sector challenges. Close to 50% of the countries had KT platforms in place. However, the availability of these was in several forms, as an institution-based platform, as an annual event to disseminate evidence and as a series of conferences at the national level. In some countries, KT was mainstreamed into routine health sector performance review processes. Several challenges impacted the functionality of the KT platforms including inadequate funding and lack of dedicated personnel. Regarding dissemination of evidence, sharing reports, scientific publications and one-off presentations in meetings were the main approaches employed. Conclusion The availability of KT platforms in the WHO African countries can be described as at best and non-existent at the worst. The current structures, where these exist, cannot adequately foster KT. Knowledge translation platforms need to be viewed as sector-wide platforms and mainstreamed in routine health sector performance reviews and policymaking processes. Funds for their functionality must be planned for as part of the health sector budget. Dissemination of evidence needs to be viewed differently to embrace the concept of “disseminate for impact”. Further, funding for dissemination activities needs to be planned for as part of the evidence generation plan.

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Public-Private Partnerships and the Healthcare Sector Performance in Kenya

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.14738/assrj.89.10841 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 339-362

Author(s):

Michael Munyoki ◽

Tabitha Nasieku

Keyword(s):

Private Sector ◽

Health Sector ◽

Private Investment ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Universal Healthcare ◽

Development Agenda ◽

Substantial Investment ◽

Sector Performance ◽

The Government

Healthcare is one of the fundamental development agenda to any nation and its adequate provision in an accessible, quality and sustainable manner is the supreme responsibility of the state. However, the burden of healthcare cannot be met by the government alone, but requires substantial investment from the private sector as well. This article reviews the existing empirical literature to examine the contribution of private investment on the healthcare sector performance in Kenya. Existing evidence shows that there is minimal private-public partnership in the health sector in Kenya. The main factors inhibiting private-public partnership investment in the sector were attributed to the uncertainty associated with universal healthcare. Further, the scheme is characterised by an overall lack of transparency and accountability surrounding contracts, costing and allocations with many of the safeguards against these kinds of challenges blatantly ignored by several actors and in turn raising issues of accessibility for citizens. Also, private sector credit and political regimes have a negative but significant influence on private investments generally.

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