 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Supasit Pannarunothai, MD, DTM&H, PhD, Professor of Community Medicine, Center for Health Equity Monitoring, Naresuan University, NA, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand, 66-55-261-000 ext4666, supasitp@nu.ac.th
The concept of the Benchmarks of Fairness has been tried in Thailand before the big reform of the universal coverage policy in 2001. The first phase of the Benchmarks in 1999 involved the analysis of the national health reform proposal as well as the analysis of ongoing field trials of health reforms in two provinces. Though the participants were predominately health personnel, the results suggested the power of combining qualitative viewpoints of participants with the quantitative indicators within the province to move health reforms to more equitable, more efficient and more democratic directions. The second phase of the Benchmarks of Fairness therefore tested the possibility of involving wider participants - the civic groups related and not-related to health - in assessing their provincial health system. Health achievements of the province by 81 indicators, according the 9 benchmarks were provided to the civic groups before focus group discussions in 10 selected provinces to facilitate discussions based on evidence. More qualitative data were obtained from the discussions as well as their judgements on the fairness of their provincial health system. Having tried this second phase, it was recommended that the benchmarks tool could be further endorsed as the basis for monitoring the progress of health reform by province and the effect of health care decentralization. The civic groups should have continuous access to evidences inline with the benchmarks and they should be provided with opportunity to express their views that are helpful in monitoring fairness in the long run.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.