National PBF Forum at Land Mark Hotel in Tukuyu on 4th March 2011.

On 4^th March 2011, CSSC organized National PBF Forum for PBF Rungwe Pilot Project.  The forum was held at Land Mark Hotel in Tukuyu Township – in Rungwe District.  The over-all objective of the forum was Promoting PBF as a concept and sharing the implementation of PBF multi- country pilot project in Rungwe district. Additionally, the specific objective of the forum included:  To introduce the concept of PBF to stakeholders as well as linking PBF with SA (Service Agreement), Experience sharing on Output Based Financing Versus Input Based Financing (Rwanda experience),  to share experience on P4P implementation by CSSC, to give an overview and  Rungwe PBF Project achievement, and share the Service Agreement (SA)- Sumbawanga experience.

The forum delegates were from within the country and abroad. From within, they were from: PMORALG Office, MOHSW in particular Consultants, GIZ representative, Office of Regional Administrative Secretary- Mbeya Region, DMO Rungwe, FBO leaders, members of the District PBF Forum, representatives of APHFTA at national and regional level, CSSC Southern Zonal Office and representative of CSSC.  From abroad these two key members attended the forum as facilitators:  Dr. Albert Beekes from ETC- the Netherlands and Mr. Christian Habineza- Regional PBF Coordinator.

CSSC Zonal Secretary- Fr. Lukas Komba gave introductory remarks on behalf of CSSC Director by welcoming all the participants of the forum.  He briefed the participants on background of CSSC, its Vision and geographical coverage of the CSSC Southern Zone i.e. 8 regions of Southern Tanzania.  He thanked EU and Cordaid for financing the project and commented that PBF is the best financing model which aimed at improving the provision of health services through a shift from input based to output based financing.  Then he commented the good cooperation from the Tanzania Government on health sector.  He finally welcomed the Assistant Regional Administrative Secretary- Mr. Emmanuel S. Mwandepa    who opened the forum.  In his opening speech, he extended his gratitude for CSSC and Cordaid for implementing the PBF Project in Rungwe District.  He urged the Health facilities to make costing so that Service Agreement (SA) arrangement with Local Government will be possible.  However, he noted that in order for PBF to be successful, these have to be in place: data management at the facility level, training service providers on basic accounting, marketing and making PBF project known to all stakeholders and have clear indicators for performance assessment.

Moreover, during the forum proceeding, various topics were presented:  Dr. Albert Beekes from ETC presented a topic on:  PBF Concept and link with  Service Agreement  (SA,) Mr. Christian Habineza on Rwanda PBF experience, Sule, T.Michael  on Overview of PBF Rungwe Pilot Project and achievement, Ms. Madina on CSSC P4P Experience, Mr. Godwin Mzurkwao- Service Agreement (SA) Sumbwanga experience and Dr. Bonnet from MOHSW on Sustainability model of donor funded programs.  The participants raised questions after every presentation for clarifications and more details, which presenters responded accordingly.

However, the forum mainly discuss on how to make Service Agreement (SA) feasible. Members of the forum revisited new Comprehensive Council Health Plans (CCHP), 4^th Edition, which so to say is still a draft, In the document, Voluntary Agency hospitals (VAH) budget line replaced with SA.  Indeed,  the discussion was on implication of  the guideline to VAH, which generally was considered as negative for health care delivery.  However, members came up with list of recommendations and way forward which will be work upon by CSSC, PBF Coordinator, and PPP Forum at the Regional level etc.  The key issues on recommendations and way forward included:   How Service Agreement (SA) can be funded using other sources apart from basket fund e.g. council’s own sources. Other issue was Signing of Service Agreement (SA) and how to integrate PBF into Service Agreement and finally to encourage discussion on application of PBF principles and encourage PBF pilots in Tanzania.

Finally, the forum was officially closed by Mr. Severine Kahitwa-Acting Director Local Government   from PMORALG. He commented that the PBF National Forum has been an eye Opener for the participants. Yet, it is a new Concept in health Care financing which needs to be learnt as much as possible in order to improve health care services in Tanzania.  Below is the group photo.

 

The guest of honour posed for group photo with the members of National PBF Forum.  

In the front seated, second from right. Mount Rungwe made a beautiful background.