News and Events

Workshop on the Safe Delivery Incentives Programme in Pokhara

On 29/30 May 2008, the Ministry of Health and Population, with Support from the Health Sector Reform Support Programme (RTI International) and SSMP, organised a very successful national workshop on the Safe Delivery Incentives Programme (SDIP), covering technical, management, financial and implementation issues. Participants came from all over the country and included central government officials and staff from District/ Public Health Offices (D/PHO) and health facilities, with a representative from Bangladesh.
 
Presentations were heard from D/PHOs, a Medical College, the NGO CREHPA (on the SDIP Rapid Assessment), Family Health Division/ SSMP, the Institute of Child Health (evaluation study) and the Bangladesh representative (experiences from their maternal incentives scheme). Discussion was lively with extensive sharing of experiences and concerns, especially related to management of funds, the need for public auditing processes and plans for improved monitoring using a new financial monitoring software package. On the second day participants visited a number of local sites to see the realities of implementation and talk with staff.
 
Many different ideas for further development and improvements to the programme were discussed, but there was strong support for removing or reducing the incentive for health workers, since this is the most difficult to manage effectively and has not been shown to increase health facility deliveries. The idea of free delivery services with support for institutions was promoted by many. Overall there was a strong commitment to continuing and improving the programme and promises from central staff of increased support for district level staff to help them with implementation difficulties. As a sign of his personal commitment, the Finance Officer from the Department of Health Services gave his mobile phone number to the district health officials and nurses. These discussions are likely to influence changes in the programme planned in the next year 

04/06/2008 Ashima Shrestha SSMP