AFR/RC53/R2 4 September 2003 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-third session Johannesburg, South Africa, 1–5 September 2003 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF HOSPITALS IN NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE AFRICAN REGION The Regional Committee, Having examined document AFR/RC53/9 Rev. 1 on strengthening the role of hospitals in national health systems; Appreciating the timely manner in which the topic on strengthening hospitals has been brought up for discussion; Deeply concerned about the current unsatisfactory performance of most hospitals in the region; Recognizing the need to improve access to quality care and in view of increasing health challenges posed by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; Realizing the need for hospitals to play a greater role in meeting the needs of victims of natural and man-made disasters; Convinced of the importance of fully functional hospitals as integral parts of national health systems in the attainment of health for all, including their contribution to retaining suitably qualified health personnel; Recalling resolution AFR/RC42/R6 on reorientation and restructuring of hospitals based on primary health care, resolution AFR/RC45/R3 on strategies for improving quality of care in health care institutions in the African Region and resolution AFR/RC44/R15 on selection and development of health technologies at district level; Committed to ensuring that hospitals properly undertake their functions of providing high quality referral care, training and development of health workers, information and research; 1. ENDORSES the orientations contained in document AFR/RC53/9 aimed at strengthening the role of hospitals in national health systems in the region; AFR/RC53/R2 Page 2 2. URGES Member States: (a) to develop comprehensive policies for sustainable hospital development that ensure complementarity with other services in the health system at all levels, including enhancing the referral system and ensuring that the poor have access to hospital services; (b) to play a strong stewardship role in hospital sector development in order to improve performance beyond just providing medical care to areas such as training of specialist health workers; strengthening of information systems and research; and selection, utilization and development of health technologies; (c) to put in place appropriate mechanisms for the management of hospitals, including participation of civil society; (d) to update or develop appropriate legislation aimed at ensuring improved performance of hospitals; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to provide adequate support to countries in their hospital development initiatives; (b) to establish a regional expert committee to provide technical guidance on hospital development; (c) to report on progress made in the implementation of this resolution to the fifty-sixth session of the Regional Committee in 2006.
AFR/RC53/R2 4 September 2003 REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA Fifty-third session Johannesburg, South Africa, 1–5 September 2003 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH RESOLUTION STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF HOSPITALS IN NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE AFRICAN REGION The Regional Committee, Having examined document AFR/RC53/9 Rev. 1 on strengthening the role of hospitals in national health systems; Appreciating the timely manner in which the topic on strengthening hospitals has been brought up for discussion; Deeply concerned about the current unsatisfactory performance of most hospitals in the region; Recognizing the need to improve access to quality care and in view of increasing health challenges posed by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; Realizing the need for hospitals to play a greater role in meeting the needs of victims of natural and man-made disasters; Convinced of the importance of fully functional hospitals as integral parts of national health systems in the attainment of health for all, including their contribution to retaining suitably qualified health personnel; Recalling resolution AFR/RC42/R6 on reorientation and restructuring of hospitals based on primary health care, resolution AFR/RC45/R3 on strategies for improving quality of care in health care institutions in the African Region and resolution AFR/RC44/R15 on selection and development of health technologies at district level; Committed to ensuring that hospitals properly undertake their functions of providing high quality referral care, training and development of health workers, information and research; 1. ENDORSES the orientations contained in document AFR/RC53/9 aimed at strengthening the role of hospitals in national health systems in the region; AFR/RC53/R2 Page 2 2. URGES Member States: (a) to develop comprehensive policies for sustainable hospital development that ensure complementarity with other services in the health system at all levels, including enhancing the referral system and ensuring that the poor have access to hospital services; (b) to play a strong stewardship role in hospital sector development in order to improve performance beyond just providing medical care to areas such as training of specialist health workers; strengthening of information systems and research; and selection, utilization and development of health technologies; (c) to put in place appropriate mechanisms for the management of hospitals, including participation of civil society; (d) to update or develop appropriate legislation aimed at ensuring improved performance of hospitals; 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to provide adequate support to countries in their hospital development initiatives; (b) to establish a regional expert committee to provide technical guidance on hospital development; (c) to report on progress made in the implementation of this resolution to the fifty-sixth session of the Regional Committee in 2006.