MIFTAH holds discussion on the program policy for sustainable and quality health care services
By MIFTAH
August 29, 2020

Ramallah – 25/8/2020 – Subsequent to its interventions for developing government policies responsive to the needs of marginalized social sectors, MIFTAH recently held a special zoom session to discuss the second and third (hospitals and major surgery) program policy for sustainable quality health care services for 2020-2022, in which several women and youth institutions participated.

The session first highlighted the purposes of the program and the most significant objectives and outcomes. The participants concurred on the need to support and develop government hospitals, improve the infrastructure of labs, revive and rehabilitate blood banks and support and improve hospitality services in government hospitals, including lunch service for inpatients (proper environment: cleanliness, ventilation, public facilities) which are compatible with the needs of women to improve their chances of receiving quality health services.

The participants also discussed the institutionalization and application of adopted initiatives and standards to raise the quality of hospital services, including implementing the initiative of child-friendly hospitals, which provide maternity, obstetrics and childcare services. They discussed the coronavirus pandemic and stressed on giving ample attention to securing a constant inflow of medicines and medical supplies for all hospitals in order to continue offering health care for chronically ill patients. These recommendations were based on the results of a MIFTAH study on the effects of the pandemic on Health Ministry health care services. The study revealed a shortage in medicines for chronic illnesses in public clinics, which negatively impacted the health situation of the chronically ill.

Moreover, the session addressed the size of expenditures on the Ministry of Health in the first half of 2020, which was less than the actual spending in the first half of 2019 by 20%. This was due to the drop in the expense of medical referrals according to the goods and services clause, which amounted to NIS445.8 million in the first half of 2019 and then dropped in the first half of 2020 to NIS254.7 million. Again, this is attributed to the drop in expenses for medical referrals, which constitutes the main pillar of the goods and services clause, as a result of the measures taken during the state of emergency.

This session was held as part of MIFTAH’s efforts towards advocacy and lobbying to promote good governance in Palestine through developing public policies and budget proposals responsive to marginalized and vulnerable social sectors, all of which are part of MIFTAH’s “Finance for Development” project, implemented in partnership with OXFAM.

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