Health regulatory framework out of date assessment shows

Dominica’s regulatory framework for health is out of date and does not take into account the challenges faced by the current health system.

That’s according to an assessment conducted on the country’s health system and private sector.

The report, officially released to the media on Thursday, points out that while private health facility inspection is mandated, it is  not enforced, and civil society organizations play a minor role in bringing constituent concerns to the attention of policy makers.

The report which was funded by USAID is recommending that the country’s Medical and Nursing Acts be updated, as well as the passing of a Pharmacy Act for Dominica.

“Use the building of a new hospital to rationalize management and quality assurance structures, strengthen and enforce health facility standards, develop standard guidelines for all health facilities in Dominica and develop a formal system for engaging clients and responding to feedback,” were some of the other recommendations highlighted by Sarah Subbach, Dominica’s Assessment Team Leader.

In terms of health financing, the assessment found that broad fee exemptions are weak and the Ministry of Health urgently needs data that links health spending, utilization and outcomes to support evidenced based planning and budgeting.

“The recommendations are that government conduct National Health Accounts estimation and build local capacity of the Ministry of Health to replicate the exercise, estimate the unit cost on public and private sector health services to assist policymakers in routine evidence-based planning and to inform new health financing policies,” Subbach said.

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6 Comments

  1. Voice From The North
    March 8, 2012

    Whose fault is it that you didn’t learn or cannot understand English. What is wrong with the language in which it is written. Go expand you vocabulary.

    • Voice From The North
      March 8, 2012

      To EMILE Zpatos.

      I suspect that even if it was written in kindergarten language you would still not be satisfied. All they are saying is that our health system and services needs upgrading so that one can see how the finances spent on health care services are justified both in terms of quality and quantity.

    • EMILE Zpatos
      March 9, 2012

      MAYBE I CANNOT SPEAK THE QUEEN’S ENGLISH ,BUT THIS THAT RESEMBLES THE WORK OF PROFESSOR HANS MERCHANTHOR IN INTERNATIONAL LAW OR PROFESSOR PIFNER IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IS NOT IT.ITS LIKE WHAT ALICE LAPLANT OF CREATIVE WRITING WOULD CALL NON COMMUNICATIVE .LOTS OF WORDS SAYING NOTHING

    • EMILE Zpatos
      March 9, 2012

      WHY ALL THIS GIBBERISH ,WHY NOT JUST SAY HEALEH SERVICES NEED IMPROVING ,AND WE NEED TO PLAN PROGRAMME AND BUDGET FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS ,BOTH IN PERSONNEL AND HEALTH SERVICE BUILDINGS
      DOMINICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.

    • EMILE Zpatos
      March 9, 2012

      it is not your fault that i cant speak or write english properly .my kindergarten teachers spoke only patois ,then i was taught by belgians and americans then swis nationals .i was not as fortunate as you are to become so smart that i cannot even understand that linton guy on q95

  2. EMILE Zpatos
    March 8, 2012

    THIS REPORT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN IN ENGLISH.
    A LOT OF SYMBOT TYPE BIG WORDS SIGNIFYING NOTHING.
    DID THE LINTON GUY ON Q95 HELP WITH WRITING THIS? PLEASE TRANSLATE.

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