Family Planning in Asia and the Pacific - International Council on ...

<strong>and</strong> advocacy for long-term methods.Recommendations <strong>in</strong>cluded establish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> recogniz<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> well-function<strong>in</strong>g task force, <strong>and</strong> conduct<strong>in</strong>g a<strong>the</strong>matic review. In addition, it was recommended thata national strategy on RHC be formulated which wouldaddress <strong>the</strong> skewed method mix <strong>and</strong> adapt <strong>the</strong> currentprocurement process for a new sector programme.Integration of maternal, neonatal <strong>and</strong> child health;tuberculosis; malaria; <strong>and</strong> HIV commodity supplysystems <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lao People’s Democratic Republic by Dr.Kaisone Chounramany, Director, MCH, M<strong>in</strong>istry ofHealthThe presentation focused on ways to streng<strong>the</strong>n MNCH<strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r health commodity logistics management <strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>formation systems to ensure <strong>in</strong>creased efficiency.In 2009, <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>istry of Health had succeeded <strong>in</strong>transferr<strong>in</strong>g different logistics systems <strong>in</strong>to one.Previously, two vertical systems were operat<strong>in</strong>g fordifferent forms of health commodities. In order tostreaml<strong>in</strong>e <strong>and</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> different systems, efforts weremade for <strong>in</strong>tegration of <strong>the</strong> supply cha<strong>in</strong>. MPSC alsomonitored stock levels, provided tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> commodity<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation management. The government alsoreceived support from development partners.Ways forward <strong>in</strong>cluded build<strong>in</strong>g capacity of MPSCto serve as a sector-wide logistics operator; creat<strong>in</strong>gmanageable <strong>and</strong> cost-effective solutions to transport<strong>in</strong>gpublic health commodities to districts <strong>and</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> capacity to monitor stocks of essential medic<strong>in</strong>es <strong>and</strong>contraceptives at <strong>the</strong> lowest level of <strong>the</strong> supply cha<strong>in</strong>.Discussion po<strong>in</strong>tsQuestion/issue:Afghanistan had to look at <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g dem<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong>was required to <strong>in</strong>crease access to commodity security.However, attempts to <strong>in</strong>crease dem<strong>and</strong> through <strong>the</strong>provision of free contraceptives still had not resulted <strong>in</strong>a change <strong>in</strong> CPR. How much should be allocated for<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g dem<strong>and</strong> through IEC <strong>and</strong> BCC?Response:Experiences from <strong>the</strong> Reproductive Health SuppliesCoalition suggested that mak<strong>in</strong>g supplies availablewould not create dem<strong>and</strong>. There were always issuesrelated to dem<strong>and</strong> versus supplies. There were a numberof factors that came <strong>in</strong>to play, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> role of <strong>the</strong>private sector versus public sector, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> compositionof <strong>the</strong> method mix. The budget levels depended on <strong>the</strong>level of CPR, but more resources should be allocatedfor dem<strong>and</strong> creation. A thorough situation analysisshould reveal how much should be allocated for dem<strong>and</strong>creation.Question/issue:The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition was askedto clarify its network<strong>in</strong>g role between governments <strong>and</strong>manufacturers. There was a concern that go<strong>in</strong>g through<strong>the</strong> Coalition could entail higher costs.Response:The pharmaceutical sector did play a part; however, ithad no <strong>in</strong>herent role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> work of <strong>the</strong> Coalition. TheCoalition worked to streng<strong>the</strong>n generic manufacturers.Question/issue:The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition was askedhow <strong>the</strong> coalition identified which countries neededsupport.Response:In <strong>the</strong> Coalition’s list of countries, 14 were classified asfocus countries where work had been completed <strong>in</strong> closecollaboration with members of relevant work<strong>in</strong>g groups.A strategic plan was used as a case control to measureimpact. The work of <strong>the</strong> Coalition related to globaltrends <strong>and</strong> was based on track<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dicators.Question/issue:Lao People’s Democratic Republic was asked about <strong>the</strong>process for procur<strong>in</strong>g contraceptives <strong>and</strong> whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>rewas a national procurement process or if each prov<strong>in</strong>cecarried out its own procurement.Response:UNFPA procured contraceptives for <strong>the</strong> country. When<strong>the</strong> family plann<strong>in</strong>g programme had been started <strong>in</strong>1994, a different report<strong>in</strong>g process was used. There wasnow a unified system under a centre for medical supplieswhich was responsible for distribution of supplies to<strong>the</strong> country. Currently, efforts were be<strong>in</strong>g made to lookat <strong>the</strong> national immunization programmes <strong>in</strong> order todeterm<strong>in</strong>e how to relate those to family plann<strong>in</strong>g.Question/issue:It was noted that Ch<strong>in</strong>a had ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed stable levels ofcontraceptive procurement but that <strong>the</strong>re was a sharp<strong>in</strong>crease s<strong>in</strong>ce 2007. What was <strong>the</strong> reason for that?Response:Ch<strong>in</strong>a had <strong>in</strong> recent years <strong>in</strong>creased its <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong>public health, both at <strong>the</strong> national <strong>and</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>cial levels,which had <strong>in</strong>creased procurement. Also, <strong>the</strong>re had beenpublic sector <strong>in</strong>vestment <strong>in</strong> research <strong>and</strong> development.Question/issue:It was also noted that Ch<strong>in</strong>a’s production of essential27