Health sector reforms to improve healthcare equity and access to Palestinians

The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), supported by USAID's $86 million, 5-year Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development Project, addresses key social justice issues through improving equity within and access to healthcare in the Palestinian territories. Through a comprehensive self-assessment of health system performance, the MoH used indicators of equity, access, efficiency, quality and sustainability to identify areas of improvement. The MoH prioritized strengthening primary health care clinics, improving hospital referral systems, developing a health information system, and engaging with communities and the private sector to expand healthcare access to the poor. Barriers to healthcare, including high costs and health insurance fees, disproportionately affect the poor who, on average, spend 40% of their income on healthcare. The MoH is thus prioritizing reforms that improve cost efficiency, reduce financial drains on the health system, and mobilize resources at the community level. Reforms to improve access to preventative healthcare services include fostering linkages between primary health care clinics and their communities to mobilize resources based on identified needs. Further, to reduce referrals abroad, the MoH is establishing the Palestine Medical Complex (PMC)--a tertiary hospital complex providing highly specialized health services. Finally, the MoH is developing a comprehensive health information system to support evidence-based health care management decisions at all levels of the health system and improve the effectiveness of business processes and health care services. These MoH-driven innovations are demonstrating impact on the health sector reform process by addressing critical barriers to equity and access in healthcare for Palestinians.