1 Health Policy & Management
MSPH-2nd Semester
3 Policies are expressed in a whole series of practices, statements, regulations and even laws which are the result of decisions about how we will do things (Barker, 1996). Policy is an empirical record of the past and not just an ethereal goal for the future (Bjorkman, 1986) What is Policy?
4 Policies can be… Laws Documents Procedures Guiding principles
Working frameworks Rules & regulations Policies can be…
5 The intention of policies i. e
The intention of policies i.e. the written vision, goals, objectives and plans to develop activities Policies as intent
6 What are attributes of a “Policy”?
7 Belongingness Commitment Status
8 Belongingness To whom a policy belongs: Government Institute
Organization Department Belongingness
9 Commitment & Status Stated intention Desire to make things happen
Status is defined by the backing from some influential entity Commitment & Status
10 Policy as it is actually experienced or understand by the people
It comprises of routine decisions about a policy Policies as practice
11 There are numerous ways through which we can divide policy into different types
It can be normative or empirical It can be proactive or reactive It can be substantive or administrative It can be vertical or horizontal Types of Policy…
12 Normative: It asserts and assesses preferred objectives or goals for the future
Empirical: It monitors the practices of the present and the record of the past Substantive: It is concerned with the legislation, programs and practices that govern the substantive aspects of community work Types of Policy…
13 Administrative: These involve, for instance, the collection of statistical information and the evaluation of complex community programs Reactive: It emerges in response to a concern or crisis that must be addressed Proactive: are introduced and pursued through deliberate choice Continue..
14 Vertical: It is developed within the organization that has responsibility for its implementation
Horizontal: It is created between parts of an organization or among organizational components that are similar in hierarchical position Continue..
15 Then what is Health Policy??
16 Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. It outlines priorities and the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs people (WHO). Health Policy
17 Identify issues on which you need a health policy!
18 Regulatory Health Policy
Health policies may be used as regulatory tools that call on government to prescribe and control the behavior of a particular target group by monitoring the group and imposing sanctions if it fails to comply. Examples of regulatory policies include prohibition of smoking in public places Regulatory Health Policy
19 Allocative Health Policy
Allocative health policies involve the direct provision of income, services, or goods to certain groups of individuals or institutions Examples include the funding of medical research, provision of public health and health promotion services Allocative Health Policy
20 Why Do We Need National Health Policies?
21 Rationale for NHP It is a way to promote “Better Health for All”
It gives a pathway for decision making and legitimize actions of all stakeholders It provides a framework It clarifies all involved stakeholders for its implementation It also provides an idea about resources needed to attain the goal Rationale for NHP
22 National Health Policy
National health policies, strategies, and plans play an essential role in defining a country's vision, priorities, budgetary decisions and course of action for improving and maintaining the health of its people (WHO). National Health Policy
23 NHP-Pakistan (2009) Vision
The vision of the National Health Policy is to improve the health and quality of life of all Pakistanis, particularly women and children, through access to essential health services Goal The goal of the national health policy is to remove barriers to access to affordable, essential health services for every Pakistani NHP-Pakistan (2009)
24 Public health policy focuses population based issues like Mortality rates, Nutrition etc. Example school nutrition policy Health care policy focuses individuals for example accessibility of health care systems Healthy public policy-Adelaide recommendations Types of NHP
25 The main aim of healthy public policy is to create a supportive environment to enable people to lead healthy lives. Such a policy makes health choices possible or easier for citizens (Adelaide Recommendations, 1988) Healthy Public Policy
26 It is concerned with health and equity in all areas of policy with accountability for impact of policy. It must involve following departments: Education Agriculture Industry Trade Communication Healthy Public Policy
27 Health Policy & Healthcare Policy
Health policy must be distinguished from healthcare policy Latter may cover the training of health professionals; licensing of health professionals & facilities; administration of public health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid Health Policy & Healthcare Policy
28 Determinants of Health Policy
Health Problem-magnitude or severity Socio-cultural norms like mental health, sexual health Political system-democratic or monarchy- single party or multiple Stakeholders involved Leadership Resources Determinants of Health Policy
29 How to plan a policy?
30 Policy Planning Cycle Situation Analysis
Priority, goals and objective settings Option appraisal Programming Implementation & Monitoring Evaluation Policy Planning Cycle
32 Engaging Stakeholders
Government Non-governmental organizations Community groups and civil society organizations Business and the private sector Political parties Local government Donors and aid agencies, including global health initiatives UN agencies, including WHO Health care providers' networks Patients and health service users Engaging Stakeholders
33 Situation Analysis Social determinants of health and health needs
Expectations, including current and projected demand Health system performance and of performance gaps Capacity of the health sector to respond to current and to anticipate future challenges Health system resources (human, physical, financial, informational) Stakeholder positions Situation Analysis
34 Bringing it altogether
Ensure comprehensive, coherent, and balanced national health policies, strategies and plans Difference between health policy of developed and developing country?? Global agencies have a major responsibility to assist in aligning programme planning efforts to national health policies, strategies and plans Bringing it altogether
35 From Vision to Operation
Effective planning at the various levels of a health system is essential for ensuring alignment between people’s needs and expectations, and overall national priorities The extent of the linkage between policy and practice depends on the level of detail in the national strategic plan and the degree of decentralized autonomy at other levels From Vision to Operation
36 Quantifying needed inputs in terms of people, equipment, infrastructure, time, training and then determining the budgetary implications Health sector stakeholders must provide realistic inputs Costing Resources
37 Monitoring & Evaluation
39 Activity Time… Develop a policy
About any health issue Maintain student’s decorum at Al-Shifa Healthy food at Al-Shifa Activity Time… Develop a policy