Maternal health drive impresses government
Government says the Results-Based Financing for Maternal and Newborn Health (RBF4MNH) initiative could be rolled out countrywide following its impressive performance.
Speaking in Lilongwe last Friday during Cycle 10 rewards presentation, Chief of Health Services, Charles Mwansambo, said there is abundant evidence that the programme has improved quality of care in the participating health facilities.
He said government is however first evaluating the initiative to weigh the benefits.
“Like anything new you have to try it first and then assess it and if the results are good we can share it with others who will critically look at it and recommend country wide scaling up,” Mwansambo said.
He said the programme borders on the quality of care and government is not only looking at how much money will be needed to roll out RBF4MNH countrywide but also at the benefits derived from the programme.
Jessie Kabwila, chairperson for Women Caucus in parliament, said the health sector in the country has serious challenges and rewarding results would ensure improved quality of maternal and neonatal health services delivery.
“This has a budgetary implication if rolled out countrywide but its high time we started tailoring our finances along lines like RBF4MNH where we reward for results to motivate health workers and also pregnant women to deliver at health institutions,” Kabwila said.
She said the problem in Malawi is not about lack of money but putting the money in wrong places.
Matthews Nviiri, RBF4MNH director, said they have disbursed over K101million in rewards to health workers in the participating health facilities in the 10th cycle.
“Between now and next year we will be giving out K700 million to health workers if they perform to our expectation in improving the quality of care in hospitals,” Nviiri said.
RBF4MNH is a Malawi government programme designed to help poor people in poor countries to live healthier lives by linking predetermined results to incentives and is funded by German and Royal Norwegian Governments.
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