The Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN) launched a new interactive toolkit, which offers step-by-step guidance on using data analytics to monitor heath provider payment systems and track whether payment systems are supporting health system objectives toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
An effective provider payment system is a critical stepping stone to achieving UHC. Provider payment systems consist of one or more provider payment methods and all supporting systems, such as contracting and reporting mechanisms, information systems, and financial management systems. Nearly every country that is working toward UHC is developing or improving strategic provider payment systems. It is important to collect information about the implementation and maintenance of provider payment systems, to track how providers are responding, whether objectives for service delivery and other goals are being achieved, and to watch for any unintended consequences, such as overuse of expensive services, excessive referrals, or skimping on necessary care.
The JLN, a community of policy-makers and practitioners from around the world, convened representatives from 13 countries in 2015 and 2016 to share experiences, expertise, and challenges related to monitoring health provider payment systems. With support from technical facilitators from Results for Development (R4D), PATH, and PharmAccess Foundation, the participating countries – Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Vietnam – collaboratively applied practical knowledge to develop the toolkit.