SOCIEUX+ in Togo: creating conditions for universal health coverage
Since 1998, Togo has conceived equitable access to health services as the basis of its health policy. The political will to achieve universal access is affirmed by the country’s adherence to international conventions on universal coverage – such as the Ouagadougou Declaration on primary health services, the Abuja Declaration on health financing, the Maputo Plan on sexual health and reproduction rights, etc.
Currently, there are initiatives that take into account the concept of universal coverage, especially in the fight against AIDS and malaria, but a global strategy for universal access to quality healthcare services remains to be implemented. That said, as part of its social protection policy the Government of Togo has put in place a compulsory health insurance scheme for public employees in 2011, handled by the Institut National d’Assurance Maladie (INAM). This plan is considered the first phase of a process that aims to achieve universal health coverage.
A new round of technical assistance
In this framework, SOCIEUX+ began a new round of technical assistance in partnership with INAM. A previous technical assistance phase included strategic planning and disease risk management. Three experts had then been mobilised. The overall purpose of the current phase is to assist with the consolidation of INAM’s internal capacities, focusing on its planned role as regulator of the nascent universal health insurance system. SOCIEUX+ support thus targets several activities: contracting capabilities and management of agreements with healthcare providers; costing of medical procedures; and economic analysis to help build up INAM's financial stability.
The support provided by SOCIEUX+ through the mobilization of high-level public sector experts aims to develop the partner’s internal capacities, rather than providing pre-assembled tools and instruments. Thus, peer support, case presentation and practice, and training workshops are prominent in the complex context of technical assistance.
The first activity is currently ongoing and aims to develop INAM’s internal capability to contract and manage agreements with healthcare providers. A Romanian expert, former Health Minister, and a Moroccan expert, director of an important social protection institution, are mobilised to provide the required assistance in two separate sub-activities.
About SOCIEUX+
SOCIEUX+ – EU Expert Facility on Employment, Labour and Social Protection – is a technical assistance facility set-up and co-funded by the European Union, France, Spain and Belgium and implemented by a partnership composed of four partners: Expertise France, leader of the implementation partnership, the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), Belgian International Cooperation on Social Protection (BELINCOSOC) and Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC).
The general objective of the facility is to expand and improve access to better employment opportunities and inclusive social protection systems in partner countries.
More information on www.socieux.eu
© Crédit photo : INAM