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From leading policy

Our projects in health policy and systems research have improved the design, implementation, and evaluation of health policies through providing a forum for publishing high quality research and original ideas, for an audience of policy and public health researchers and practitioners.

3.1 Health Policy & Research

Health Policy can be defined as the “decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society.[1] According to the World Health Organization, an explicit health policy can achieve several things: it defines a vision for the future; it outlines priorities and the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs people.[1]

There are many categories of health policies, including global health policy, public health policy, mental health policy, health care services policy, insurance policy, personal healthcare policy, pharmaceutical policy, and policies related to public health such as vaccination policy, tobacco control policy or breastfeeding promotion policy. They may cover topics of financing and delivery of healthcare, access to care, quality of care, and health equity.[2]

Summary of our recent health policy & research projects included;

3.1.1 COMMUNITY MIDWIVES PROGRAMME (CMP)
Project: Contech conducted a feasibility study for introducing a countrywide strategy for positioning skilled birth attendants at the community level. The “Community Midwives Programme” (CMP) study was conducted under the auspicious of National Commission on Human Development (NCHD), Government of Pakistan.

Goal: The main objectives of Community Midwife Programme are to provide safe and easily accessible reproductive health services at the community level, to create a network of institutionally trained reproductive health workers in the country and to provide micro-credit assistance for establishing village based safe delivery practices.

Client: National Commission on Human Development, Islamabad

3.1.2 PREPARATION OF NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL MALARIA STRATEGIC PLANS
Project: The Government of Pakistan initiated a process to prepare Strategic Plan(s) for the federal as well as for provinces including FATA and AJK. TAMA supported the process for the development of the plan(s). Contech International accomplished this responsibility.

Goal: The assignment was aimed to develop plan(s) for the revival of a program that has been exposed to a series of episodes of change processes in the past.

Client: Technical Assistance Management Agency

3.1.3 PREPARATION OF NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN (NPAC) AND CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN (CRC) REPORT
Project: Contech International worked hand in hand with Govt. of Pakistan through the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education, Provincial Departments of Social Welfare and National Commission for Child Welfare & Development (NCCWD) in order to promote, implement and follow-up the provisions of the CRC and develops a National Plan of Action for children.

Goal: This document identifies the main problems in achieving, protecting and promoting the rights of children in our country. The Plan was aimed to set targets and indicators to assess progress towards the achievement of the goals set forth for child protection and development.

Client: National Commission on Child Welfare Development

3.1.4 PREPARATION OF NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR CHILDREN (NPAC) AND CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN (CRC) REPORT
Project: Contech International worked hand in hand with Govt. of Pakistan through the Ministry of Women Development, Social Welfare and Special Education, Provincial Departments of Social Welfare and National Commission for Child Welfare & Development (NCCWD) in order to promote, implement and follow-up the provisions of the CRC and develops a National Plan of Action for children.

Client: National Commission on Child Welfare Development.

3.1.5 DEVELOPMENT OF PUNJAB HEALTH SECTOR STRATEGY (PHRSP)
Project: The Punjab Government is committed to the principle of universal health care for all members of the society – combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision – and improving the health status of the population. A major change in the roles and responsibilities of health sector both at the federal as well as provincial level was brought about by the 18th constitutional amendment requiring the national health programs to be decentralized to the provinces.

Goal: Overall aim of this assignment was to assist the Health Department, Government of Punjab, to prepare a prioritized health strategic plan for the advocacy of province to improve health outcomes by improving performance of health sector.

Client: Punjab Health Sector Reform Program

3.2 Technical Assistance

3.2.1 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY (TAMA)
Project: DFID and USAID had required a service provider to source and manage national and international consultants as part of a package of technical assistance in support of a National Health Facility (NHF) with the Government of Pakistan (GoP). A Technical Assistance Management Agency (TAMA) had been formed for the purpose. Contech was a major national partner of the consortium consisting of Options Consultancy Services as lead organization and Abt Associates, Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health (LATH).

 VLMIS Study
 Institutional Advisor Support person for MTR
 Decentralization Study
 TA for Advocacy and Communication
 Evaluation, short listing and placement of candidates for NHPU
 Nutritional Programme PC-1
 PSRP Costing Study
 Strategic plan (5years) with costing Malaria control
 Development of a quality control Guidelines and monitoring programme for microscopic diagnosis
 Developing of Pool of Master Trainers in Social Mobilization at the District Level
 Mid-Term Review and Strategy Update of the National Response to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan
 In addition TAMA has been involved in the strengthening of district health system through
1. Supervision of LHWS
2. Reporting of T.B drugs stock-out
 Individual Study Assignments

 PUNJAB
 PC-1 form for Malaria for Punjab
 Technical assistance for logistic management LHW Programme

 SINDH
 Review of Monitoring /Supervision system at district level (Sindh)

 BALUCHISTAN
 PCI form for Malaria Baluchistan
 Revision of GAVI EPI PC-1 (Baluchistan)
 PC-1 Health education System (Baluchistan)

 NWFP/KP
 Revision of GAVI EPI PC-1
 New PC-1 for Roll back malaria programme in line with RBM Strategy
 Social Mobilization for routine EPI

Client: Department for International Development (DFID)

3.2.2 PUNJAB DEVOLVED SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM (PDSSP)

Project: Contech has managed TAs for the Punjab Devolved Social Services Programme. The consultants have been placed under the ADB guidelines for procurement of TA. Following studies were carried out:

 Development of Minimum Service Delivery Standards, Standardized medical protocols and SOPs
 Restructuring of Punjab Health Foundation Punjab
 Medico-Legal Study
 Job Descriptions and Evaluation criteria for medical and paramedical staff
 Urban Catchment Hospital model
 Restructuring Of Paramedic Service Cadre In Punjab
 Development of ECCD nutritional model for Punjab
 A Study To Devise A System For Referral Of Medical Cases At The Devolved Health Care Level
 Punjab Millennium Development Goals and Access to Justice Program-National Financial Specialist
 Strengthening Capacity for health sector planning at district for government level (SP-09)

Client: ADB / Govt. of the Punjab

3.2.3 MEDIUM TERM BUDGETING FRAMEWORK (MTBF)

Project: Government of Punjab is implementing budget reforms under Medium Term Budget Framework (MTBF). These reforms have been pilot implemented at Irrigation & Power and Health Departments. By June 2009, the reforms have been implemented at the two pilot departments. Separate sets of MTBF Statements 2009-12 have been developed and approved by the Provincial Cabinet. A roll-out plan has also been developed which covers three more provincial departments (besides the existing two) and will be implemented in Phase-II beginning FY 2010. Contech team assisted Finance, Health and Irrigation department in shifting to Medium Term Budgeting Framework (MTBF) mode mode during Oct 2008 – Sep 2009. The actual services provided were:

 Gained an understanding of the New Accounting Model (NAM) under project to improve financial reporting and auditing;
 Gained an understanding and review the financial management arrangements (including budgeting) at MTBF departments;
 Provided assistance in preparation of and refinement of MTBF guidelines for MTBF department;
 Provided assistance in preparation of budget for MTBF departments on multi-year formats;
 Provided training and capacity development to the finance and accounting staff at the MTBF departments;
 Conducted technical studies analysis as and when required by MTBF cell;

Short-term inputs to complement the work of the Project Coordinator
Goal: The overall objectives of the project were to building awareness and capacity within the Budget Wing of the Ministry of Finance (MOF)

Client: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

3.2.4 FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE

Project: Contech is recently implementing a service delivery project of family health insurance voucher scheme with the financial support of BRAC Pakistan. Contech is the executing partner of BRAC and carrying out interventions of proven efficacy to elevate the health status of target community, addressing inequalities in access and providing quality health care services to pro poor communities. It is being implemented within three Union councils of district Lasbela, Baluchistan where 1,500 families will be registered for health insurance.

Goal: The purpose of this project is

 to elevate the health status of target community
 to address inequalities in access and providing quality health care services to pro poor communities

Client: BRAC Pakistan