Policies and Politics of mobilizing resources for contraceptive security in Egypt

To respond to USAID's phaseout of contraceptive support and achieve the national population goals, the Government of Egypt began development of a multi-partner contraceptive security strategy using the Strategic Pathway for Reproductive Health Commodity Security (SPARHCS) approach in December 2003. The country intends to achieve an adequate level of funding to make contraceptives available to all those who need and want them. The development of a CS strategy has involved several interwoven processes: awareness raising among a broad range of stakeholders, building partnerships and support, forming multisectoral planning groups, conducting policy analyses, and mobilizing information for decisionmaking.

A series of planning meetings, policy dialogue, and consistent advocacy successfully enhanced commitment and contribution to maximizing Egypt's contraceptive security and developing a long-term funded CS strategic plan. The ministerial committee approved the following strategies: (1) secure financial resources to compensate for supplies that were provided by USAID and to increase strategic stock; (2) encourage local manufacturing of contraceptives, particularly the IUD; (3) examine the possibilities of beneficiary contributions to the cost of services, especially for those who can afford to pay for services; (4) exempt all contraceptives imported by the MOHP from all duties and sales tax; and (5) negotiate with all international and national agencies to contribute to the purchase of contraceptives, as a first priority. The Ministry of Finance allocated a total of US$4,200,000 for contraceptive security for the period 2004–2006. The plan is included in the National Reproductive Health Plan and the government has taken responsibility for implementation.