Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Project for Capacity Development of National Health Insurance toward Universal Health Coverage

Country

Sudan

Date of R/D signed

November 17th, 2020

Project Site

Northern State, Gezira State, North Kordofan State, Gedaref State, and West Darfur State. (Among the project sites, JICA expert team provides intensive assistance to Northern State and Gezira State. )

Term of Cooperation

From March 31, 2021 to March 30, 2024

Implementing Organization

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)

Background

Universal health coverage (UHC) is defined as status where all people have access to quality health services when necessary without suffering financial hardship. The National Health Insurance Fund of the republic of the Sudan(NHIF) was established in 1995 with the aim of providing finantioal risk protection to Sudanise people against user fee and improve access to health care when needed at the point of health service delivery. With the achivement of UHC, the NHIF is required to reform its system and processes in order to meet the anticipated change in demand. Through this project, JICA strengthens capacity of the NHIF in terms of both quality health services and financial risk protection as overall goals.

Overall Goal

Capacity of national health insurance systems is strengthened in terms of health financing management and quality health service delivery nationwide.

Project Purpose

Capacity of national health insurance systems is strengthened in terms of health financing management and quality health service delivery in the intensive intervention sites.

Outputs

Output 1: Credential system of primary health care facilities is strengthened.
Output 2: Health insurance claim management system is strengthened.
Output 3: Strategic purchasing for primary health care services is strengthened.
Output 4: Outcome and experience of the Project are disseminated nationwide and internationally.

Project Activities

[Output 1]

1-1	[Project Implementation Committee (PIC)] Review existing heath facility accreditation standards of Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and credential system of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for primary health care (PHC) facilities.
1-2	[PIC] Revise NHIF credential system for PHC facilities based on the health facility accreditation standards for PHC facilities of FMoH.
1-3	[PIC] Develop training materials for the revised credential system of NHIF for PHC facilities (including facility improvement plan development).
1-4	[PIC and State Joint Committee (SJC)] Conduct trainings of Assessors on the revised credential system of NHIF for PHC facilities in the intensive intervention sites.
1-5	[Assessors] Conduct PHC health facility assessment for NHIF facility credential in the intensive intervention sites based on NHIF expansion plan.
1-6	[assessed PHC facilities] Develop facility improvement plan based on the results of the assessment in the intensive intervention sites, and submit the plan to the SJC and NHIF.
1-7	[SJC] Review the facility improvement plans submitted by the facilities in the intensive intervention sites.
1-8	[assessed PHC facilities] Improve the facility based on the improvement plan in the intensive intervention sites.
1-9	[SJC] Re-assess the improved facilities for NHIF credential for PHC facilities in the intensive intervention sites.

[Output 2]

2-1	[PIC] Review health insurance claim management system.
2-2	[PIC] Design health insurance claim management system considering integration of the related information management systems.
2-3	[PIC] Procure equipment necessary for the health insurance claim management system.
2-4	[PIC] Develop training manuals for the health insurance claim management system.
2-5	[PIC and SJC] Conduct trainings on the health insurance claim management system for staff of health facilities and NHIF branches in the intensive intervention sites
2-6	[SJC] Implement the health insurance claim management system in the intensive intervention sites.
2-7	[PIC] Analyze data of the health insurance claim management system especially on utilization of national health insurance by different groups of the population.

[Output 3]

3-1	[PIC] Review provider payment methods and benefit package for PHC proposed by WHO-EU project.
3-2	[PIC] Conduct trainings on strategic purchasing.
3-3	[PIC] Consolidate the provider payment methods and benefit package for PHC to be piloted in the intensive intervention sites.
3-4	[PIC and SJC] Conduct orientation seminars on the pilot of the provider payment methods and benefit package for PHC in the intensive intervention sites.
3-5	[PIC and SJC] Pilot the provider payment methods and benefit package for PHC in the intensive intervention sites.
3-6	[PIC and SJC] Monitor and evaluate results of the pilot implementation using research as one of the tools.
3-7	[PIC] Revise the provider payment methods and benefit package for PHC based on the results of the pilot.

[Output 4]

4-1	[PIC] Develop project expansion plan for project target areas and other states.
4-2	[PIC and SJC] Conduct national dissemination forum on the Project.
4-3	[PIC] Present project experience and outcomes internationally and share experience related to UHC with other countries.

Inputs

[Japanese side]

JICA experts: Chief advisor, Project Coordinator, Health Financing specialist, Information Technology (IT) specialist
Trainings inside and outside Sudan
Equipment: Equipment necessary for Project activities

[Sudan side]

Counterparts (Project Director, Project Manager, and other personnel mutually agreed upon as needed.)
Project office(s) for JICA expert team
Local costs such as transportation, accommodation and per diem of Sudanese Counterparts