SPEED seeks to address these objectives by focusing on 2 broad categories of challenges;
Challenge 1: Limited capacity for policy analysis advice and influence at MakSPH Capacity for policy analysis at MakSPH is a major challenge with few experts specialized in policy analysis, yet the support expected in this area is enormous especially in the context of UHC
SPEED Intervention
• Faculty development will be undertaken through hands-on policy analysis, policy influence studies to generate high quality products.
• Mentorship of MaKSPH from partner institution for building and enhancing skills in policy analysis and influence.
• Seminars focused on health policy and the science of health systems and policy implementation.
• Development of new courses and trainings in the field of health policy analysis, advice and influence. Increase the number of technical staff through recruiting and mentorship of post doc fellows.
• Mobilise grants to sustain health policy and implementation studies at MakSPH
Challenge 2: Incoherence in policy due to pluralistic and less uncoordinated stakeholder activity. Policy coherence across governmental sectors and non-state actors for UHC is problematic as exemplified below;
- While the need to expand human resources for health is well-articulated, there exists recurrent bans by the Ministry of Finance to control the wage bill
- Instead of increasing government scholarships for essential health cadres, the education sector has privatized the health training of health workers at all levels
- As government starts to promote foreign direct investments, nurses and doctors are being encouraged by the Labour Ministry to seek work opportunities abroad
- More expensive medical products are being introduced in the health system amidst inelastic fiscal space in health sector financing
These challenges will be addressed through objectives 2 and 3 with the main aim of attaining a common vision, policy coherence and collaborative actions across multiple institutions and sectors. Specifically;
Under objective 2;
• Engage stakeholders in purpose oriented dialogue and understanding of Universal Health Coverage.
• Prepare a book that captures the state of the art and priority actions for UHC in Uganda.
• Establish a platform for policy engagements around clearly articulated policy problems or outcomes. Policy papers and briefs from policy and systems analyses will be prepared for the consumption of the decission makers.
• Establish purpose-driven coalitions to address high-level policy outcomes that demand institutionalized advocacy.
• Establish a dynamic communication strategy to guide the range of channels and platforms that will be used to reach out to national and international stakeholders.
Under objective 3;
• Establish a Policy Implementation Barometer survey every after 2yrs to provide feedback to the decisionmakers and stakeholders about the implementation of a selected set of policy programmes for UHC.
• Generate debate and dialogue for improvements in policy implementation.
Improve leadership skills among managers of health institutions at national and sub-national level for UHC, through operational research and fellowships