The EAC Regional Health Policy is a comprehensive framework established to implement Article 118(b) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community to be used as a framework for the development of national and regional strategic health sector plans, policies, guidelines and protocols. It mandates that, in the context of health cooperation, partner states commit to promoting the effective management of health service delivery systems and the development of improved planning mechanisms, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency and quality of health care across the region. The main goal of the document is to build a harmonized, equitable, sustainable, and integrated health approach, supporting systems and services, adequately funded, for the general well-being of the EAC population and its environment. The Policy articulates the 9 regional objectives and related strategies to facilitate cross-border provision of affordable, accessible, and quality health services. The nine objectives are: (1) building capacity to prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases, injuries, and climate-related health risks in the EAC region through strengthened health systems, surveillance, prevention, environmental sustainability, and coordinated public health action; (2) establishing effective preparedness and response mechanisms for disasters, epidemics, and emergencies by enhancing risk management, planning, coordination, information sharing, and response capacity; (3) harmonizing the training, regulation, and management of skilled health personnel to ensure equitable access to quality care through improved education, professional standards, and workforce distribution; (4) improving access, quality, and equity of health services, particularly for vulnerable populations, by advancing universal health coverage, ensuring availability of essential services and medicines, promoting community involvement, and strengthening service delivery standards and regulation; (5) creating sustainable and equitable health financing mechanisms through coordinated funding, efficient financial management, social health protection, and accountability measures to ensure access to care; (6) promoting good governance in the health sector by enhancing transparency, regulation, coordination, leadership, stakeholder engagement, anti-corruption measures, and regional partnerships to strengthen health system performance; (7) advancing health systems research for evidence-based policy by prioritizing research, applying findings in decision-making, building regional and national centers of excellence, supporting collaboration, expanding research capacity and funding, and focusing on youth, marginalized groups, and reproductive and adolescent health; (8) enhancing access to essential medicines and health technologies through local research and manufacturing, traditional and complementary medicine integration, quality control, intellectual property protection, and regional procurement and distribution systems; and (9) developing a sustainable, integrated, and secure health information system by linking national systems, strengthening disease surveillance, e-health infrastructure, ICT compatibility, and regional digital solutions to support timely, evidence-based decisions, including for hard-to-reach and cross-border populations.
2016-11-01