Health Sector Improvement Program
Project / Program Summary

1. Objectives
   To improve the performance of the health sector in terms of access, quality and efficiency, especially for the poor, women and other vulnerable groups.
2. Activities / contents
   Recurrent budget support to budget and management centres; provision of funds to UNICEF for vaccines; procurement and installation of medical equipment; procurement and distribution of medical supplies; civil works programme for health centres and hospitals; provision of funds to UNFPA for contraceptives; development of Ministry of Health systems for procurement of technical experts; technical support provided to the following key areas - central health planning and training, establishment of the Ghana Health Service, further capacity building in financial management, development of performance monitoring, development of a gender strategy, capacity building and systems development for equipment, supplies and technical assistance, development of systems for physical planning and options appraisal. Development of systems for contracting with the mission/private sector and NGO's; development of operational research programme including service delivery innovations and community mobilisation.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   Primary health care services at district and sub-district level strengthened; capacity of secondary and tertiary services to support primary services improved; professional and management skills developed; capacity of the Ministry of Health to undertake policy analysis, performance monitoring and evaluation developed, and regulatory bodies developed; central support systems at Ministry of Health Improved; the use of the private sector in health service delivery promoted; intersectoral collaboration strengthened.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   to contribute towards the goals specified in the Agenda for Action under Health and Population.

Joanne Alston, DFID, London.