There are large disparities in the health care resources available to different districts, regions and provinces within individual countries. Using a resource allocation formula, that is based on indicators of the relative need for health care within each geographic area, has been found to be helpful in overcoming historical allocation patterns. This report, implemented under the fair financing theme in the Regional network for equity in health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET) assesses whether there has been progress towards equitable resource allocation in four Southern African countries which have adopted such formulae (Namibia, South Africa, Zamibia and Zimbabwe). Researchers in Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe provided information on implementation progress in their countries.
Latest Equinet Updates
The Law of Faculty, Makerere University in EQUINET and are carrying out a commissioned review of the Public Health Laws in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in relation to policy areas relevant to equity in health. This study will outline for the three countries coverage and gaps to be addressed in law and where relevant, in the enforcement mechanisms; and identify areas for follow up stakeholder consultation and research. The researchers are requesting for published or grey literature on this area of focus. Please contact the principal researcher Mulumba Moses, mulumba_moses@yahoo.com
Call Closes On December 7, 2007!
This call invites applicants to participate and share experiences in a Regional Training Workshop for east and southern African countries on Participatory Methods for research and training for a people centred health system being held on February 27 to March 1st 2008.
The training aims to support work at national, district and local level with health systems and communities in health, with a major focus on the interactions at primary health care level. The 2008 training will focus on overcoming community and health systems barriers in accessing comprehensive prevention and treatment for HIV and AIDS and strengthening equitable primary health care responses to HIV and AIDS.
This study reviews the Zambian deprivation-based health resource allocation formula and assesses how the deprivation-based resource allocation formula has been implemented in terms of achieving the initial desired goals of resource – re-distribution. It further considers the extent of converge or divergence in the equity goals relating to resource re-distribution through the allocation of funding to the districts.
The workshop took participants through the writing process from developing a key message, planning the structure of writing, to writing the specific sections of scientific papers such as the title, abstract, keywords, executive summary, introduction, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions and references; on various aspects of peer-reviewed publishing and on issues of authorship, copyright and plagiarism.
The Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) commissioned this review of current multi-lateral agreements, codes of practice, bi-lateral agreements, regional agreements, and strategies and position statements that govern the migration of health workers from ESA (East and Southern African) countries. The paper provides an overview of the current situation in ESA, and the strengths and weakness of current codes in application in the region.
Call Closes On December 7, 2007!
This call invites applicants to participate and share experiences in a Regional Training Workshop for east and southern African countries on Participatory Methods for research and training for a people centred health system being held on February 27 to March 1st 2008.
This report commissioned by EQUINET / HST in co-operation with the ECSA-HC presents a review of literature on the methods for analysis costs and benefits of the migration of health workers from East and Southern African (ESA) countries.
In October 2007 EQUINET has produced a regional equity analysis that offers a comprehensive, yet accessible, resource presented through text, tables, figures, case studies, quotes and images. The evidence in this analysis points to three ways in which ‘reclaiming’ the resources for health can improve health equity:
• for poor people to claim a fairer share of national resources to improve their health;
• for a more just return for east and southernAfrican countries from the global economy to increase the resources for health; and
• for a larger share of global and national resources to be invested in redistributive health systems to overcome the impoverishing effects of ill health.
The book can be obtained from EQUINET by contacting admin@equinetafrica.org or through the publishers in the region, that is Weaver Press weaver@mweb.co.zw; Fountain Publishers (for East African region) sales@fountainpublishers.co.ug and Jacana (for South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland) sales@jacana.co.za.
This report is of the proceedings of a training workshop on policy engagement and advocacy to promote health in trade agreements held in Bagamayo, Tanzania, August 31 and Sep 1 2007. The workshop covered general issues of trade and health, and a deeper review of TRIPS and use of TRIPS flexibilities, the EU-ESA EPA, and health services liberalisation.