In the past few decades, policy makers have recognized that for any significant improvement in the health profile of a country, the focus must be on health systems as a whole. Particular diseases and epidemics are simply symptoms of a larger problem, namely the affliction of the whole system. Heartfile’s significant achievements in this area are summarized below:
Health systems performance assessment
Establishing a framework for health systems performance assessment (initiated in 2009). This was part of a WHO-led platform to ‘Strengthen Monitoring and Analysis of Country Health Systems.’ This assessment will be reported in the Pakistan Lancet Series, published in 2013.
Heartfile Health Financing
Developing an IT-supported demand side health financing tool that can enable efficient, timely and well-targeted cash transfers in order to protect the poor against catastrophic spending on health, and to establish a seed Health Equity Fund (initiated in 2008). This is being done under the name of
‘Heartfile Health Financing.’ Funding:
Rockefeller Foundation.
18th constitutional amendment in Pakistan
The Gateway Paper: Health Systems in Pakistan – a Way Forward
The Gateway series of papers, which aims to strengthen the evidence base of health reform. The first in the series,
Gateway Paper I was the first consolidated review of health systems in Pakistan. Its strategy was recognized as a blueprint for formulation of a new national health policy for Pakistan. Pro bono time contribution: Dr. Sania Nishtar.
Health Indicators of Pakistan – Gateway Paper II
The post-gateway roundtables
Memoranda of understanding with the government on health policy development
Assessment of corruption in health service delivery
Health systems research
Research in the area of priority setting for health systems research. The study aimed at the development of a locally suited priority-setting model. Funding: Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva.
Health communication
Research in the domain of health communication. The intervention capitalizing on the strengths of social marketing. Funding: Canadian International Development Agency. Details of the campaigns can be
accessed here and publication can be
accessed here.
National Action Plan on NCDs
Health information system
Supporting the development of a health information system in
the aftermath of the October 8, 2005 earthquake. This database system generated regular reports to facilitate the Ministry of Health in its strategic planning with regard to relief efforts.
Health population institutional disconnect in Pakistan