Developing evidence-based investment options in support of pandemic preparedness policy

Project description

Title: Developing evidence-based investment options in support of pandemic preparedness policy in Cambodia
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Cambodia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Health
Overall term: 2011 to 2013

Context

Cambodia is currently rebuilding its health care system. However, it has to cope with a significant shortfall in the financial resources it needs to improve the structure of its health services. As a result, in rural areas there is a lack of equipment, pharmaceutical products, and trained staff. The lack of funding is also hampering ongoing preparedness activities to counter the threat of influenza pandemics. To ensure an effective and efficient approach, which also improves the country’s capacity to respond to a pandemic, more information is needed about Cambodia’s health system and its resource gaps.

Objective

The results of an investment priority analysis are benefiting national ministries and international donors as they plan investments that will yield optimum benefits for the health system.

Approach

It is doubtful whether the inadequate and underfunded health care system of Cambodia could cope with the emergence of an epidemic or pandemic. In a collective project, a number of national institutions and the Cambodian Ministry of Health are cooperating with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to conduct a study that will identify major resource gaps in the health system. One aim of the study is to help local donors prioritise their investments in the health system and to assess areas for further investment, such as the surge capacity of health care. GIZ’s German Pandemic Preparedness Initiative is providing funding on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to support the work on the study.

The study is being carried out in four main stages. Firstly, scenarios are identified for the scaling-up of resources for key health services. This is followed by an analysis of investment priorities and the costs involved in scaling-up those key health services. The third step involves mathematical modelling to estimate the public health benefits of the proposed changes. Finally, an incremental cost-effectiveness and equity analysis will be conducted.