Ukraine GHI Country Strategy

This strategy focuses on two priority themes: improving the quality of care and expanding services to underserved priority regions of Ukraine. The Global Health Initiative (GHI) creates the potential for technical assistance provided by the USG to complement the efforts of the Government of Ukraine (GOU), including reform efforts which promote greater consolidation and integration of primary care services. The GOU has made health reform a top priority, and the GHI principles are best practices that have been implemented by the USG health team since assistance was first provided at Ukraine's independence in 1991. These principles include country ownership, strategic coordination, and leveraging opportunities with key stakeholders in the health sector. The USG aims to strengthen the Ukrainian healthcare system in targeted areas where USG and GOU efforts overlap, in order to achieve a level of healthcare more comparable to its neighbors in Western Europe. The USG-GOU HIV/AIDS Partnership Framework, signed in February 2011, is one example of how linkages are being strengthened between USG programs and GOU priorities. The USG, through the principles of GHI, will also seek opportunities to leverage its experience and technical expertise to improve the overall health sector in Ukraine via its existing programs. This will include areas such as policy, Health Information Systems (HIS), procurement and supply chain management, support to civil society, and communication and programmatic outreach activities. Within the USG HIV/AIDS, TB, and FP/RH programs, the cross-cutting focal areas under GHI will include: 1) improved quality of care; and 2) increased and improved data for healthcare decision making by health workers and clients. The USG chose these areas of focus because of the existing evidence showing that results can be achieved with improvements in these areas, the relationship between quality of data and quality of care, and the ability to promote "smart" integration and coordination, particularly with the GOU priorities for health reform and health system strengthening. The development hypothesis of the USG GHI program is that Ukrainians will become healthier and live longer by increasing the use of targeted health practices, becoming better informed and aware of health issues, receiving higher quality of health services from a more sustainable health system, and an improved enabling environment which will create a more stable and prosperous Ukraine. The USG will work closely with the GOU, other donor partners, independent and donor-led evaluation teams, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to achieve this goal. The USG will also seek to reduce the redundancies and gaps in the existing vertical TB and HIV services through its integrated approach. This approach will emphasize the importance of preventive services and early diagnosis and case management. The USG's integrated approach will also promote greater awareness and involvement of the public and private healthcare providers in delivering quality care. The USG model approaches in current areas of programmatic focus (HIV/AIDS, TB, and Family Planning) serve as catalysts for reform of the Ukrainian healthcare system as a whole.