Health Economics and Financing in Afghanistan

Agency for International Development (USAID) that works in more than twenty countries and four regions to strengthen the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of health systems. In Afghanistan, HPP supports the Ministry of Public Health's (MoPH) Health Economics and Financing Directorate (HEFD) in developing and implementing national health financing strategies, generating and using economic evidence for policymaking, and building HEFD's research and implementation capacities to strengthen the health system. HPP supports five areas of health economics and financing in Afghanistan to improve transparency in planning, managing, and delivering health services. The project aims to build the capacity of and collaborate with HEFD to ensure the efficient and equitable use of resources for priority health areas and to enhance policy and program monitoring and accountability. HPP also works with HEFD to analyze costs at different service delivery levels to understand how much is spent and on what service areas. A key study on the efficiency, equity, and quality of different contracting modalities for health services was conducted to support the MoPH in deciding how to move forward with purchasing public health services. The Afghanistan health system is largely dependent on international donor funding, and increased government contribution to the health sector is crucial. HPP supports HEFD in advocating to senior government decisionmakers to increase domestic resources for the health sector through financing schemes such as a tobacco tax and health insurance. The first health insurance feasibility study in Afghanistan is being conducted in 2013-2014 to lay the foundation for building risk-protection mechanisms in the country. HPP provides further support to the MoPH to develop strategic documents, such as the Health Financing Strategy 2014-2018 and the updated Revenue Generation Strategy, and to plan for and develop a more sustainable health system. HPP also supports the development of capacity and advocacy in the private health sector through the Afghan National Medicines Services Organization (ANMSO) and the Afghan Private Hospital Association (APHA). The project strengthens the voice of the private health sector with government to advocate for policies that promote growth and the improvement of health service quality. HPP is building stronger relationships between the public and private health sectors through regular dialogue and continuing to support the sustainability of these organizations. The Health Policy Project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-10-00067, beginning September 30, 2010. It is implemented by Futures Group, in collaboration with CEDPA (part of Plan International USA), Futures Institute, Partners in Population and Development, Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), RTI International, and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA). The project has achieved several key results, including completing the 2011-2012 National Health Accounts and Reproductive Health Subaccounts, developing the Health Financing Strategy 2014-2018, launching the Expenditure Management Information System (EMIS) database, and supporting 10 costing studies on primary care services and hospital services.