USAID SHP Annual Report - FY2014

The project builds on the accomplishments of the USAID Better Health Systems (BHS) Project and has the ambitious goal of expanding social health protection to provide additional levels of support to vulnerable groups beyond the identified poor. Partnerships have been established to improve service delivery to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) and men who have sex with men (MARPs), engage with local governance structures, and innovate using information technologies to build bridges between national vertical programs and broader health systems. During the first nine months of the project, sub-agreements were established with project partners, and a shared vision of the project's goals and objectives was articulated. The project's vision aligns with the current situation regarding social health protection in Cambodia and positions the project to support the RGC in implementing the draft Health Financing Policy, which aims for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under a uniform social health insurance institution. The project will continue to leverage investments made by USAID in social protection, particularly the Health Equity Fund (HEF) system, by supporting efforts of the RGC to integrate the HEF system into government structures. The project has worked closely with the Ministry of Health/Department of Planning and Health Information (MOH/DPHI) to support the establishment of the interim National Social Health Protection Fund (NSHPF). Discussions with the MOH/DPHI Director, Dr. Loveasna Kiry, defined the scope and functions of the NSHPF, and the project seconded two staff to work with MOH/DPHI and facilitate the process of setting up the interim NSHPF. The draft job descriptions for seconded staff have been included in Annex #1 to this report. The interim NSHPF kickoff workshop on September 11th, 2014, achieved consensus on key points, including NSHPF leadership roles, operational units, and provincial NSHPF coordinators. The workshop participants included representatives from the MOH/DPHI, NIPH, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Social Health Protection Association (SHPA). The results of the workshop were documented in a summary report and in the revised terms of reference for the positions that will be seconded by the project. The NSHPF will have four operational units: Accounting/Financing/Admin/Logistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Policy/Planning/Advocacy, and Provincial NSHPF Coordinators. The Accounting/Financing/Admin/Logistics unit will be responsible for accounting, financing, administration, and logistics, while the Monitoring & Evaluation unit will support sub-national governance structures, monitor SHP progress, and conduct field monitoring. The Policy/Planning/Advocacy unit will provide technical assistance and SHP operator training, develop SHP-related operational policies and guidelines, and coordinate benefit package development. The Provincial NSHPF Coordinators will be based in the Technical Bureau of the Provincial Health Department and will support sub-national governance structures, monitor SHP progress, and conduct field monitoring. The project has made significant progress in establishing the interim NSHPF and defining its roles and responsibilities. The project will continue to work closely with the MOH/DPHI and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the NSHPF and achieve the project's goals and objectives.