In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical... more In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal on the theme of health system strengthening, and provide a summary of lessons learnt and ways forward from the lessons and experiences of the past. Priority areas have been identified for consideration by the health sector and its various players and stakeholders moving forward, particularly in the context of the next National Health Plan. The imperative need to focus on the basics is emphasized: to make sure that key health interventions are implemented; that health workers have requisite skills and are placed where services are needed; that there is an uncompromising focus on ensuring, by whatever means, that the essential logistical elements are there to enable the health worker to provide the interventions; that key messages are communicated to, and provide support for, communities to attend care and practise health-promoting behaviours; and that population coverage is incre...
In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical... more In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal on the theme of health system strengthening, and provide a summary of lessons learnt and ways forward from the lessons and experiences of the past. Priority areas have been identified for consideration by the health sector and its various players and stakeholders moving forward, particularly in the context of the next National Health Plan. The imperative need to focus on the basics is emphasized: to make sure that key health interventions are implemented; that health workers have requisite skills and are placed where services are needed; that there is an uncompromising focus on ensuring, by whatever means, that the essential logistical elements are there to enable the health worker to provide the interventions; that key messages are communicated to, and provide support for, communities to attend care and practise health-promoting behaviours; and that population coverage is incre...
This paper highlights the key changes to the health system over the past 20 years, including the ... more This paper highlights the key changes to the health system over the past 20 years, including the impact of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments, the politicization of the system, the changing balance between government and development partners in financing the health system, and the development of a sector-wide approach in the Papua New Guinea health sector. It discusses reform efforts at bureaucratic and regulatory level to address these problems. Key health sector policy issues and lessons learned over the past two decades are highlighted. The paper concludes with an examination of what is needed to 'get back to basics' through mobilizing all health sector partners with the aim of getting the health system delivering improved health outcomes.
As a result of increasing economic constraints in the health sector of Papua New Guinea, the Depa... more As a result of increasing economic constraints in the health sector of Papua New Guinea, the Department of Health embarked upon a major financial policy review program in 1986, which incorporated several studies in key areas. This paper presents the results of one component of the review, a health sector financing and expenditure study, which was undertaken for the 1986 financial year. The study found that: 1) 88% of health sector expenditure was provided by the public sector; 2) over 95% of expenditure was used for recurrent costs and there was poor utilization of overseas aid for capital projects; 3) the balance of expenditure between primary and secondary health was appropriate; 4) there were regional inequities in expenditure; and 5) a disproportionate amount of recurrent expenditure was consumed by personnel costs. The need to increase nongovernment expenditure on health was identified and further investigation of alternative sources of financing the health sector is required.
This paper provides an overview of the literature regarding public-private partnerships (PPPs) by... more This paper provides an overview of the literature regarding public-private partnerships (PPPs) by examining several case studies from around the world and documenting the lessons learned across different PPP models. In addition, it focuses on experience in the facilitation of two PPPs between the public and private sectors in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and discusses the potential benefits that may be delivered to PNG communities through pursuing further such PPPs for health.
International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 1989
ABSTRACT This paper describes exploratory work on two allocation models for policy makers in Papu... more ABSTRACT This paper describes exploratory work on two allocation models for policy makers in Papua New Guinea using goal programming. The first model allocates national financial resources for health among the 19 provinces. Determinants of the model include health status, population, manpower, and access provisions and previous resource distribution. The second model utilizes the results from the first model to allocate resources among different health activities within each province. Determinants of the model include major health problems of each province and available health resources. The paper concludes with a dicsussion on the use and implications of the model in the Papua New Guinean situation.
A cost study of rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducted in 1988 included assessment... more A cost study of rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducted in 1988 included assessment of the potential quality of each unit. A checklist of simple criteria was developed, measuring the level of care and the capability of the centre to perform certain health service tasks. This ...
In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical... more In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal on the theme of health system strengthening, and provide a summary of lessons learnt and ways forward from the lessons and experiences of the past. Priority areas have been identified for consideration by the health sector and its various players and stakeholders moving forward, particularly in the context of the next National Health Plan. The imperative need to focus on the basics is emphasized: to make sure that key health interventions are implemented; that health workers have requisite skills and are placed where services are needed; that there is an uncompromising focus on ensuring, by whatever means, that the essential logistical elements are there to enable the health worker to provide the interventions; that key messages are communicated to, and provide support for, communities to attend care and practise health-promoting behaviours; and that population coverage is incre...
In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical... more In this review we reflect upon the papers within this focus issue of the Papua New Guinea Medical Journal on the theme of health system strengthening, and provide a summary of lessons learnt and ways forward from the lessons and experiences of the past. Priority areas have been identified for consideration by the health sector and its various players and stakeholders moving forward, particularly in the context of the next National Health Plan. The imperative need to focus on the basics is emphasized: to make sure that key health interventions are implemented; that health workers have requisite skills and are placed where services are needed; that there is an uncompromising focus on ensuring, by whatever means, that the essential logistical elements are there to enable the health worker to provide the interventions; that key messages are communicated to, and provide support for, communities to attend care and practise health-promoting behaviours; and that population coverage is incre...
This paper highlights the key changes to the health system over the past 20 years, including the ... more This paper highlights the key changes to the health system over the past 20 years, including the impact of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments, the politicization of the system, the changing balance between government and development partners in financing the health system, and the development of a sector-wide approach in the Papua New Guinea health sector. It discusses reform efforts at bureaucratic and regulatory level to address these problems. Key health sector policy issues and lessons learned over the past two decades are highlighted. The paper concludes with an examination of what is needed to 'get back to basics' through mobilizing all health sector partners with the aim of getting the health system delivering improved health outcomes.
As a result of increasing economic constraints in the health sector of Papua New Guinea, the Depa... more As a result of increasing economic constraints in the health sector of Papua New Guinea, the Department of Health embarked upon a major financial policy review program in 1986, which incorporated several studies in key areas. This paper presents the results of one component of the review, a health sector financing and expenditure study, which was undertaken for the 1986 financial year. The study found that: 1) 88% of health sector expenditure was provided by the public sector; 2) over 95% of expenditure was used for recurrent costs and there was poor utilization of overseas aid for capital projects; 3) the balance of expenditure between primary and secondary health was appropriate; 4) there were regional inequities in expenditure; and 5) a disproportionate amount of recurrent expenditure was consumed by personnel costs. The need to increase nongovernment expenditure on health was identified and further investigation of alternative sources of financing the health sector is required.
This paper provides an overview of the literature regarding public-private partnerships (PPPs) by... more This paper provides an overview of the literature regarding public-private partnerships (PPPs) by examining several case studies from around the world and documenting the lessons learned across different PPP models. In addition, it focuses on experience in the facilitation of two PPPs between the public and private sectors in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and discusses the potential benefits that may be delivered to PNG communities through pursuing further such PPPs for health.
International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 1989
ABSTRACT This paper describes exploratory work on two allocation models for policy makers in Papu... more ABSTRACT This paper describes exploratory work on two allocation models for policy makers in Papua New Guinea using goal programming. The first model allocates national financial resources for health among the 19 provinces. Determinants of the model include health status, population, manpower, and access provisions and previous resource distribution. The second model utilizes the results from the first model to allocate resources among different health activities within each province. Determinants of the model include major health problems of each province and available health resources. The paper concludes with a dicsussion on the use and implications of the model in the Papua New Guinean situation.
A cost study of rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducted in 1988 included assessment... more A cost study of rural health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducted in 1988 included assessment of the potential quality of each unit. A checklist of simple criteria was developed, measuring the level of care and the capability of the centre to perform certain health service tasks. This ...
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Papers by Jane Thomason