WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR
THE WESTERN
PACIFIC
BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS
Nineteenth Session Manila 1-8 October 1968
WPR/RC19/TD5 7 September 1968 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
GUIDELINES FOR THE TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS 1.
TOPIC
"Health Planning as an Administrative Tool" 2. 2.1
PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSIONS
To review the experiences of national health administrations which have undertaken national health planning.
2.2 To determine the requirements of national health administrations, particularly those in the developing countries, which will undertake national health planning.
2.3 To consider the possible uses of national health planning in the organization and administration of health and medical services and the results obtained.
3.
PREPARATION FOR THE DISCUSSIONS
It is suggested that participants should familiarize themselves with the situation in their own countries/territories as far as the following are concerned: (1) the national developnent planning policy and the national overall developnent plan; / (2) the national •••
WPR/RC19/TD5 page 2 (2) the national health plan, with partioular attention to: (a) (b) (0)
its relationship with the overall national ,plan, the organization and meohanios of health P4anning, the objeotives, means employed and
aooomplishments,
inoluding evaluation prooedures undertaken, and (d) the planning problems and how they are being resolved.
It would also be valuable if partioipants would report on the experienoes their national health administrations have had in the use of health planning in the organization and operation of their health and medioal servioes and the results obtained.
Comments
and
suggestions will be requested from partioipants as
a further basis for discussion, with a view to adding to the pool of information already available and to providing new insights in the field of national health planning. 4. QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
Primary attention will be given to the questions and problems
raised by participants during the teohnioal disoussions. wish to oonsider during their deliberations.
Annexed
to this dooument are oertain questions whioh the partioipants may
.
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WPR/RC19/TD.5 page
:3
QUESTIONS WHICH MIGHT BE CONSIDERED DURING THE
TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS 1. Some governments have undertaken national development planning with health as a sector of .their national plans. Is it the experience of the health administrations of these countries that, as a result of planning, they are meeting their health plan targets and strengthening the organization and operation of their national health and medical services? What problems, if any, are being encountered with regard
to the planning methodo-
logy in use, the allocation and utilization of resources, the determination and realization of target objectives and the administrative or implementing machinery being employed? Is it felt that there is need for the health sector to: improve its communications with other sectors, partiCipate more fully in overall planning, and strengthen further its planning process? 2. Would the modern planning approach be a suitable tool for health planning in countries which are just beginning the organization and development of their national health and medical services? What special areas need attention in this situation and what action is required to resolve difficulties which may arise over time? What measures require attention at the pre-planning stage and during the various stages of the health planning process?
3.
How can problem areas which may be associated with the items listed below be tackled in the context of national health planning under the varying conditions of health organization and development in countries/territories in the Western Pacific Region: (a) (b) health and medical information and data, quantity and quality of health manpower resources,
/(0) supervision •••
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WPR,/RC19/TD5 Armex pagelt (c) (d) (e) supervision, resources, formulation of norms, standards, cn teria and development of techniques, (f) (g) (h) inter-agency consultation and co-operation, evaluation. organization of health planning machinery and operation.
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4.
What influences are likely to be exercised by the health planning process in relation to: (a) the organizational structure and operational practices of national health administrations. (b) other official and non-official organizat~ons
and groups (voluntary, private, medical and allied professional groups) interested in health. (c) (d) national overall development planning, the community.
5.
In what ways· can international organizations assist or participate with governments in promoting and accelerating the development of national health plarm1ng among the countries and territories of the Western Pacific Region?
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