Constella Futures COMPRI-A Leads Development of Policy in Support of Social Marketing
Improving the health situation in Afghanistancontinues to be one of the most challenging endeavors for the new government of this emerging post conflict nation.
Quality assurance within the public and private sectors is one of MoPH's identified priorities in addressing the critical health situation for Afghanistan. Constella Futures has a strong background and solid experience in policy development world wide.
Working with the MoPH in Afghanistan, the Constella Futures COMPRI-A project is expanding their work in policy development to incorporate social marketing. This is an exciting piece of work for both Constella Futures and the new government of Afghanistan.
The general purpose of the policy assessment is to identify policy barriers to participation of the private sector in providing reproductive and child health services and products in Afghanistan and the social marketing of those services and products.
The assessment found that in post-conflict Afghanistan, many health policies are being developed from the bottom up, largely based on the need of specific programs and supported by a rational, structured process within the MoPH.
“Opportunities exist for COMPRI-A to contribute to this process; e.g. through the development of private sector– specific policies that will facilitate and strengthen the marketing of each of the project’s products.” commented Bill Emmet Constella Futures lead on the social marketing policy component.
There are currently few significant barriers to social marketing and or private sector involvement in the delivery of health services and products. To improve private sector health products and services, however, the government will need to consider introducing positive incentives that will, at the same time, permit the government to maintain its stewardship responsibilities on behalf of the general welfare of all Afghan citizens.
COMPRI-A will support the MoPH and USAID in their efforts to “create and improve an environment for rational delivery of quality health services and products in the private sector.” We will work to ensure that policies are in place that support the private sectors participation in health markets. The team will nurture growth of professional associations as well as publicprivate sector partnerships. Our approaches will work to strengthen public confidence in the private sector by improving the quality of both health care services as well as pharmaceutical products.
