Citizen Participation in Health (LK0027)

Establish a sustainable mechanism for citizen participation in health sector development
1st March 2019 – 31st August 2021
Lead implementing agency/ actor Ministry in charge of the subject of Health
Commitment description
What is the public problem that the commitment will address? The health sector is currently undergoing reforms to strengthen primary healthcare. These reforms aim at addressing demands for healthcare and developing a system where the citizens can access the closest primary healthcare hospital and receive appropriate specialized care as per their needs. Although it is important for citizens to take part in the process to see these reforms through, there is currently limited engagement of citizens in health sector development. Absence of sustained mechanisms to share information and obtain citizen feedback is a primary reason for low level of citizen participation in health sector development.
What is the commitment? Citizens must understand and participate in health sector reforms to ensure their success. The purpose of this commitment is to provide strategies that will empower citizens and enable them to participate in the development of health services in the country. Existing channels of engaging the public will be revisited. Linkages formalizing citizen participation and platforms to share information will be strengthened.
How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? Citizens will be empowered to participate in health sector development using several strategies. More linkages will be established with citizen groups to formalize citizen participation. Improving the health ministry website to make it more people friendly will create more opportunities for citizens to easily access information and to provide feedback. This platform will also provide evidence based health information that can be easily understood which can dispel any misconceptions that hinder people’s health and contribute towards improving health literacy. Identified priority areas are: chronic kidney disease, mental health and drug supply management. While citizens can give useful feedback they also need to be empowered on changing their health seeking behaviours, i.e. the primary care strengthening will bring a system where the closest primary care hospital will become their first choice for contact care.
Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? This commitment addresses the values of public participation as it encourages citizens to participate in implementing the health reforms in a successful manner. It promotes access to information by providing health related information more accessible to the citizens.
Additional information The reforms have been approved as the policy for health service delivery for UHC.
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End Date:
1. A sustainable mechanism will be introduced to enable citizen participation for health improvement through formalizing existing networks of Sarvodaya and Peoples Health Movement. April 2019 February 2020
2. A people and professional friendly ministry website will be developed, improving the image of the organization in health development whilst engaging all for health improvement. April 2019 June 2020
3. A drug supply management information system up to primary care level is created informing stock outs to both providers and people April 2019 June 2020
4. Information on food based research relevant to CKDu will be made available to citizens through an organized communication strategy April 2019 February 2020
5. An evidence based mental health improvement communication campaign will be launched in schools and other social institutions July 2019 June 2020