After reading the draft of the new Health Policy, few things that immediately came to my mind: 1. No clarity on the role and level of responsibility of health extension volunteers like FCHV and on outreach services. They are the ones who have made us proud in the achievement in health sector globally 2. Emphasis on micro-nutrient but on stunting and macro-nutrient the focus in lacking despite this being a global commitment made by government of Nepal through the SUN movement. 3. Health post and PHCC terms are vaguely used in the policy, their use in the policy needs to be well defined and standardized. Am sure the following implementation plan will have clear guideline on HRH as per global standards and population ratios. 4. Midwifery education promotion is a good thing in the policy but there is no clear DARBANDI for midwives, its not clear if are they replacing MCHW or ANM?? Or are only in the health facilities or also community midwives. This is important to be spelt out to reduce maternal mortality like has been talked on new-born health 5. Social audit is not a component in the health policy unfortunately and this is taking away the accountability from the community on their health 6. Community partnership and partnership with other line ministries like Ministry of Local Development up to VDC level to have local accountability is missing and accountability is centralized to the health system only 7. Little policy guidance on the health information system which is vital to evidence based planning and budgeting and less emphasis to other cross cutting issues like youth , gender and gender based violence and the medico-legal services Anyway, good move and hope this will have wide consultation. I am sure experts will work through to make this document much better, and sure the implementation plan will capture a number of them .
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 06:13:52 +0000
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