Recorded presentation

Oscar Ugarte, MD, Peru Office, Partnership for Health Reformplus, Calle Antequera No. 777, piso, San Isidro (altura Cdra 5 de las Camelias), Lima, Peru, Ricardo Alania, MBA, Peru office, Partnership for Health Reformplus Project, Calle Antequera No. 777, piso 8, San Isidro (altura Cdra 5 de las Camelias), Lima, Peru, 511-422-3185, ralania@phrplus.org.pe, Barbara O'Hanlon, MPP, O'Hanlon Consulting, Inc, 5727 Moreland Street, NW, Washington, DC 20015, and Midori M. De Habich, PHRplus-Peru, Antequera 777 Piso 8 San Isidro, Lima, Peru.

Statement of Purpose: To improve health status, reduce health inequalities, and enhance fairness in the delivery and financing of health care, policymakers and health providers need to involve a wider range of actors in the process while at the same time, create a more accountable and transparent institutions. The Peru case provides a unique opportunity to observe how MOH efforts to become more inclusive of civil society and more accountable and responsive can foster a genuinely collaborative process.

Many developing countries are using decentralization as a measure to bring government “closer to the people”, prompting several Ministries of Health (MOH) to experiment with different approaches that create space for citizen involvement. Partners for Health Reformplus, in collaboration with Peruvian state governments and regional MOH officials, is pioneering an innovative approach that actively engages civil society to include more voices in decentralizing health services while creating a more accountable and responsive MOH. Working in 4 regions, PHRplus evaluated the processes to create high performing Regional Health Committees (CRS) and their ability to become more accountable and transparent with their “clients”. The study relies on case study methodology to describe each CRS participatory process to define the health problem, agree on health priorities and reach consensus on health programs to fund in the annual budget. The study offers important lessons on risks and benefits and impact of greater participation in decentralizing health services. Moreover, the study reviews the effectiveness of different participatory methods to make the process truly collaborative.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Understand a framework to create a participatory process in a decentralized setting.
• Apply a simple process to identify key stakeholders and determine their role and level of participation in health planning process.
• Develop a participatory approach that creates common ground among multiple stakeholders on health problems, strategies and actions while creating more accountable and responsive health services.
• Identify appropriate tools and methodologies to engage and sustain stakeholders in a participatory process.

Related Web page: www.phrplus.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Abt Associates USAID funded project, Partnership for Health Reformplus
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.

Recorded presentation