4 May 2008, 16:38
A new study (see article links on the right) has identified a whole series of research priorities for improving health policy and delivery in Palestine. Most of them could be translated to the needs of ministries of health in any developing country. Here is a selection:
- How can the Ministry of Health [MoH] improve the current structure of the Governmental Health Insurance [GHI] Department?
- How can the MoH improve the demand-side incentives for efficient health care use in the current GHI system?
- What are the current models of health insurance systems employed in Palestine by the various health care providers (governmental, NGO, private and United Nations Relief and Works Agency [UNRWA])? How successful are these models and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
- What are the types and costing systems of the existing health services provided by the four health care providers (governmental, NGO, private and UNRWA)?
- What are the opinions of citizens/consumers of health care services about the implementation of a compulsory health insurance system in Palestine?
- What type of national health insurance system is feasible for implementation in Palestine?
- What are the possibilities of implementing a ‘mutuality health system’ in Palestine, as used in countries like Tunisia, Morocco and France?
- What are the possibilities for creating an independent national health insurance fund?
- What types of national tertiary care and services exist in Palestine?
- What are the mechanisms to improve the current national tertiary system in Palestine?
- What new tertiary services are needed on a national level?
- On what type of tertiary services is the referral system currently spending its most financial resources?
- What are the human resources for health [HRH] needs in Palestine?
- How to target shortages in HRH?
- What is the role of the unions and professional bodies in HRH management?
- What type of national database on HRH management is needed for Palestine?
- What is the satisfaction of citizens regarding the performance of health professionals?
- What types of licensure and accreditation systems are needed for health professionals?
- What are the existing educational programs for HRH and how can these be used to fill gaps in other programs?
- What are the HRH needs in Palestine and do the existing programs correspond to an actual need?
- How can in-service training be implemented to include specialization scholarships?
- What type of programs can be implemented in the public sector for newly graduated HRH?
- What type of national Continuous Education System do we need for HRH in Palestine?
- How can a model “teaching hospital” be created?
- How performance quality of health professionals be monitored?
- What gender policies are needed for women that elicit their positive role in health?
- What is the role of health workers in health and in community outreach and how to improve their functions?
- What are the mechanisms to raise public awareness regarding the importance of midwifery and their role in society on a national level?
- What are the lessons learnt, advantages and disadvantages of the existing partnership models among the various health care providers?
- What are the best mechanisms to support the national health policy and strategic planning committee?
- What are the types of services, roles and coordination mechanisms of all non-state sectors in the present health system?
- What terms of reference and work plans are needed for the Private Hospital Forum in the West Bank?
- What mechanisms and policy priorities would enhance the capacity of the NGO coalition?
- What types of contractual agreements are needed among private, public and NGO sectors?
- How to develop a national Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the Palestinian health sector? What are the process and indicators needed?
- What Annual Performance Review process is needed for the health sector?
- How can a national central library for the health sector be created? Who should be responsible for its creation and maintenance? How to ensure its continuity and sustainability? How can research papers be used in policy analysis?
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