Afghanistan
In 2002 the Ministry of Public Health began a process to determine the major issues in the redevelopment of the national health system. This process resulted in a number of key policy initiatives including the Interim National Health Policy and Interim National Health Strategy 2002-2004, setting priorities and the development of evidence based interventions such as the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS). These and other issues are also reflected in the new National Health Policy 2005- 2009 and National Health Strategy 2005-2006. According to the policy and strategy, stewardship, including leadership, of the health system in Afghanistan is one of the Ministry’s main responsibilities. The MOPH fulfils this responsibility in a number of ways, including looking at trends in health priorities and resource generation and their implications, information needs, and generating appropriate data for decision making.
Planning, monitoring and evaluation are key functions of the Ministry. Relevant, accurate, timely and accessible evidence and information on performance of the health system (and its component parts) is key for the Ministry to effectively fulfill its stewardship responsibility. A focus on health outcomes and a results-based culture can only be achieved when relevant information is available. Accountability and transparency within the Ministry and among its NGO partners can only be achieved and maintained if well-founded information is generated and used systematically. Effectiveness of policies, strategies and program implementation cannot be evaluated without sound evidence.