Abstract

The development of essential health care package (EHCP) has been recognized as a critical tool for guiding country level actions towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Although countries’ packages vary in scope, many utilize the package to guide resource allocation, equity, advocacy, prioritization of services, political commitment, and accountability. The concept of health packages has evolved from basic packages (focusing on limited high-burden conditions), to benefit- (cost-effective interventions) and essential packages (what people need, with benefits as sub-packages). The purpose of this proceeding was to document processes from Botswana and Sierra Leone workshops, which aimed to support country conceptualization of an EHCP, including content and scope. More specifically, the workshop aimed to gain consensus on identification of conditions to be addressed in each age cohort, rationalizing the EHCP interventions across public health functions, levels of care and age cohorts. Technical working groups were constructed for each age cohort and tasked to lead the appraisal of interventions for technical comprehensiveness, contextualization to country needs, and mapping of interventions to the appropriate levels of care. As a result, the countries' draft EHCPs were developed, encompassing interventions for 80 + conditions. The EHCP is expected to set precedence in defining ‘essential’ interventions for the population, structurally promoting integration of health services, and providing succinct guidance to partners, and stakeholders on the country's priorities, in terms of health interventions to be delivered at various levels. Many countries are striving to re-pivot their health systems, in order to meet the evolving contextual needs of the population and ensure their systems remain fit for purpose. EHCPs can be utilized to guide health sector inputs, for robust system functionality and attainment of UHC.

Details

Title
Proceedings of essential health care package development, in Botswana and Sierra Leone, November 2022
Author
Humphrey Cyprian Karamagi; Kidane, Solyana Ngusbrhan; Pierre Claver Kariyo; Araia Berhane Mesfin; Maina, Isabella; Avortri, Gertrude; Hyppolite Kalambay Ntembwa
Pages
1-10
Section
Meeting report
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
1753-6561
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3201557603
Copyright
© 2025. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.