Health Equity: 03/09/11

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

[EQ] European Health Policy Forum - Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services: A Framework for Action

First meeting of the European Health Policy Forum for High-Level Government Officials

Andorra la Vella, Andorra, 9–11 March 2011

The objectives of the meeting are:
•to define how the Forum can support the Health 2020 process;
•to present the overall purpose, key objectives and process of Health 2020;
•to garner advice on specific issues, including: the European action plan for noncommunicable diseases, the plan to strengthen public health capacity and services in Europe, governance and intersectoral action;
•to share experiences and strategies in implementing the Tallinn Charter: Health Systems for Health and Wealth, and assess the progress made so far.

Related Documents:

Developing the new European policy for health – Health 2020

http://bit.ly/edpJGV

To consider the importance of adopting a “whole of government” approach to governance for health and health equity and a strengthened capacity of ministries of health to lead intersectoral policy processes and advocate for health equity in all policies; and • the need to create a movement for health and wellbeing, inspired by Health 2020, through a truly participatory process that will engage and connect with decision-makers and professionals at all levels, as well as with civil society

Interim report on implementation of the Tallinn Charter

http://bit.ly/ihyiT9

assessing health system performance as a way of improving governance and accountability (chapter III); (ii) ensuring solidarity and health gain in times of financial crisis (chapter IV); and (iii) strengthening health systems impact through leadership of intersectoral action to improve health (chapter V). Chapter VI concludes the report, and offers perspectives on the lessons learned.

Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services in Europe: A Framework for Action

http://bit.ly/gp2yr9

The paper proposes a set of ten horizontal essential public health operations (EPHOs), and sets out the core public health services within each of them. These will become the unifying and guiding principles for any European health authorities monitoring, evaluating or setting policies, strategies and actions for reforms and improvement in public health. The paper highlights the major avenues that the WHO Regional Office for Europe intends to take in order to tackle public health and health system challenges. It concludes by proposing specific actions and measures to move towards the attainment of the objectives set.

Assessing System Performance for Health Governance

http://bit.ly/ghVDMC

Present initiatives which address the whole of the health system as scope of analysis (at the national, subnational or local level) and discuss how such approaches might support effective governance for better health outcomes

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[EQ] Natural Disasters: What is the Role for Social Safety Nets?

Natural Disasters: What is the Role for Social Safety Nets?

Larissa Pelham, Edward Clay, Tim Braunholz

February 2011- Discussion Paper No. 1102

Social Protection and Labor – The World Bank

Available online PDF [148p.] at: http://bit.ly/dStDzX

“…..This paper makes the case for why safety nets are an important tool for managing the risk of natural hazards. The use of safety nets is advocated both ex ante, to prevent and mitigate the impact of natural disaster and ex post, to cope with the impacts of natural shocks.

Firstly, the paper explores the implications of contextual factors to be taken into account in the design of an effective safety net system to respond to the needs generated by natural disasters. Learning from the responses to a number of recent natural disasters, a typology of the different types of natural hazards which require different approaches to reduce their risk is introduced.

Secondly, the paper considers some “guidelines” for improving the design and implementation of safety nets either to prevent and/or to recover from natural disasters.

Finally, some conclusions and recommendations for more effective safety net and suggestions for addressing key issues are outlined…….”

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

1 INTRODUCTION

2 THE ROLE OF SOCIAL PROTECTION IN RESPONDING TO NATURAL DISASTERS

3 THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE PRE-EXISTING CONTEXT: LESSONS LEARNED

3.1 DEFINING THE NARRATIVE

3.2 THE POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

3.3 THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT

3.4 THE SOCIAL CONTEXT

3.5 FULL INFORMATION: DATA COLLECTION AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS

3.6 THE POLICY ARENA AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

4 EX ANTE PREPAREDNESS

4.1 FLOOD AND CYCLONE RESPONSE IN BANGLADESH: THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EX ANTE DISASTER RISK RESPONSE STRATEGY

4.2 SCALING UP SAFETY NETS IN ETHIOPIA

4.3 IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL SAFETY NETS EX ANTE: LESSONS LEARNED

5 DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY NET PROGRAMS

5.1 SELECTING THE IMPLEMENTING AGENT

5.2 CHOOSING THE TYPE OF INSTRUMENT

5.2.1 Cash, in-kind or vouchers?

5.2.2 Public works/workfare and other conditional transfers

5.3 ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE GROUPS AND THE COMMUNITY

5.4 TARGETING

5.5 SIZE, FREQUENCY OF THE TRANSFER AND DELIVERY

5.6 INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

5.7 FROM DEVELOPMENT TO RELIEF TO RECOVERY

5.7.1 Planning

5.7.2 Scaling up and the transition from short- to long-term assistance

5.7.3 Military disengagement and foreign assistance

5.8 FINANCING

5.8.1 Social funds

5.8.2 National Disaster Management Funds

5.8.3 Private sector financing and other mechanisms

5.8.4 Multilateral donor funds

5.9 THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

6 CONCLUSION

6.1 WHY SAFETY NETS FOR RESPONDING TO NATURAL DISASTERS?

6.2 KEY ISSUES TO APPROACH, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SAFETY NETS FOR NATURAL DISASTERS

6.3 KEY ISSUES FOR THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY NETS FOR NATURAL DISASTERS

REFERENCES

ANNEX I CASE STUDIES

AI.1 BANGLADESH: CYCLONE SIDR, NOVEMBER 2007

AI.2 ETHIOPIA: THE 2008 FOOD EMERGENCY

AI.3 PAKISTAN: EARTHQUAKE, OCTOBER 2005

AI.4 INDONESIA: TSUNAMI, DECEMBER 2004

AI.5 NIGER: DROUGHT AND FOOD CRISIS, 2005

ANNEX II TARGETING MECHANISMS: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

ANNEX III SUMMARY OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

ANNEX IV PROFILES OF SAFETY NETS FOR NATURAL DISASTERS, 2000-2008

ANNEX V SOME GUIDANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL SAFETY NETS EX ANTE

ANNEX VI LESSONS LEARNED: CONTEXTUAL ISSUES

ANNEX VII SUMMARY OF SAFETY NET DESIGN ISSUES

[EQ] Addressing Systemic Challenges to Social Inclusion in Health Care

Addressing Systemic Challenges to Social Inclusion in Health Care
Initiatives of the Private Sector

Jason Marczak, Nina Agrawal, Gustavo Nigenda, José Arturo Ruiz, Ligia de Charry
Americas Society (AS) - March 7, 2011

Available online PDF [32p.] at: http://bit.ly/i12jiJ

…….Latin America remains the most unequal region in the world, presenting significant challenges to overall regional development. A number of groups— among them the urban and rural poor (33.1 percent of the population), indigenous populations, Afro-Latinos, and women—continue to lack access to critical pillars of development, including quality health care services….

“…..This report presents the findings and conclusions of Americas Society’s (AS) Ford Foundation-funded research on health care carried out under the AS Social Inclusion Program.

The goal of this paper is to draw attention to a sample of new practices that increase access to quality health care for marginalized populations and spur businesses, governments and nonprofit organizations to commit more to address this issue.

The focus is on Colombia and Mexico, where ongoing national efforts have significantly increased health care access for those traditionally left out of the health care system. By the end of 2010, Seguro Popular had reached 42 million of Mexico’s 50 million previously uninsured, and by 2011, the subsidized regime of Colombia’s Ley 100 was providing health insurance to 11 million people who otherwise would have had no such insurance.

Through in-country research and a roundtable meeting, Americas Society, leveraging its relationship with sister organization Council of the Americas (COA), looked at select cases in which the private sector is expanding access to care in each country. This report does not evaluate individual programs but rather presents a variety of health care initiatives that all have the same goal: providing care for those that otherwise would not have access to it. It is essential that we consider these cases and the lessons learned in the larger regional context.

Recommendations include:

•Greater utilization of information and communications technology, through eHealth and mHealth initiatives, can expand access to quality care, reduce inefficiencies and cut costs.

•A regional clearinghouse of for-profit models that serve marginalized populations can be an effective strategy for consolidating efforts.

•Regular dialogue between health ministries or local departments and the private sector is necessary to harmonize health care delivery efforts….”