Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. The population is 74,000 with a life expectancy of 74.2 years (men) and 80.3 years (women). Dominica suffers from exposure to external shocks, negative effects of natural disasters and difficult terrain. Hurricanes caused severe damage to the population in the past and as recent as 2017. The improvement of health systems is a priority enshrined in Dominica’s National Development Plan (2014-2018) and in its Strategic Plan for Health 2010-2019. The Ministry of Health seeks to protect universal access to a high-quality health system that includes strong, adequately funded infrastructures for health promotion, disease prevention and health protection as well as increased resource mobilization for health programmes. The UHC Partnership focuses on strengthening Dominica’s health system’s governance to support the development of a resilient health system which meets the population’s needs. To this end, a new national plan will redefine the health system with the progressive implementation in 2019, addressing aspects related to human resources, medicines and health technologies, financing, management and essential public health functions. You can access important country documents by clicking here.
Technical Areas
Completed/Cancelled
| Product/Service | Deliverables | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct an assessment of the Health System in Dominica, including: service delivery network (primary care and hospital); governance and oversight; risk reduction strategies (including surveillance); human resources for health; priorities medicines and other health technologies; and financing, all elements required to develop a resilient health system. | No number of health districts evaluated and restructured for the delivery of essential services. Completed in June 2018. All 7 health districts were evaluated. | Completed |
| Support for the redefinition of the health systems organizational model to meet population current needs. | A national plan for the redefinition of the health system drafted by end 2018 with the progressive implementation in 2019. Deferred to to first semester of 2019, pending decisions of National Authorities on the recommendations of the assessment. | Completed |
| Support for the development of a national plan for the redefinition of the health system, including aspects related to human resources, medicines and health technologies, financing, management and essential public health functions. | A plan of action to implement short term changes to make primary care facilities operational by end of 2018. Deferred to first semester 2019, pending the development of the national plan for the redefinition of the health system. | Completed |
| Support the redesign of the supply chain for medicines and other health technologies including access at the point of care | Master plan for the redesign of the supply chain for medicines and other health technologies including access at the point of care, drafted. This output is deferred for 2019. | Completed |
| Expand the current training of community health aids (to increase the cadre of health care workers) | Trained and competent Community Health Aides | Completed |
| Assessment of blood product and laboratory services with a focus on strengthening primary health care services | Report with recommendations for the strengthening of the capacity to deliver safe blood and blood products within an integrated health network and an effective monitoring and evaluation framework. | Completed |
| Assessment of radiology services with a focus on strengthening primary health care services | Report with recommendations for the improvement in the provision of safe radiological services at the level of the hospital and community. | Completed |
Details
| Product/Service | Deliverables | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Strengthening MOH capacities for the implementation of essential public health functions | EPHF assessment conducted and Health System strengthening framework developed and implemented. Health legislations reviewed and developed | Not started |
| Build regional capacity to develop legislation for NCD RF in consistency with the WHO FCTC. | Tobacco legislation and regulations developed | Not started |
| Implement diabetes and hypertension control interventions in primary care and facilitate exchange of information and experiences | HEARTS technical package to improve the management of cardiovascular diseases implemented | Not started |
| Breast and cervical cancer control, including palliative care | Prevention and treatment services for cervical and breast cancer programmes strengthened | Not started |
| Implementation of HRH plan of action in Caribbean countries according to the needs of the programs for each type of health professional | HRH Unit developed and HRH plan of action implemented | Not started |
