DATES: September 2008 - September 2013

PARTNERS: University Research Co., LLC

 

HCI builds upon work initiated by other USAID projects to establish and implement quality standards for the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS).  USAID employs the health-care improvement collaborative approach in the BPHS/EPHS setting.  This methodology links proven quality improvement methods with established quality assurance standards that are applied first at the facility level for immediate service impact and, subsequently, at the central and systems levels to sustain quality improvement approaches.  The goal of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) quality improvement collaborative activity is on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality through service delivery.  The project currently focuses on improving the quality of maternal and newborn care in 12 provinces: Kabul, Balkh, Kunduz, Parwan, Bamyan, Herat, Kapisa, Panjshir, Wardak, Logar, Samangan, and Sare-e-Pul.  In Kabul, USAID is working with both private and public hospitals, i.e., Malalai, Isteqlal, Rabia Balkhi, Khair Khana, Dasht-e-Barchi, Afghan, Shinozada and Mehdi hospitals.  USAID is also working with the MoPH to build a “culture” of quality assurance within the Ministry by incorporating quality improvement principles and approaches into its institutional structure, technical functions, and policies.