2.5.2 Health planning Planning and development of the MoH is coordinated by the Management Development and Planning Unit (MDPU) within the Ministry. Development of long-term, medium-term and annual plans for the government health-care delivery system is a core function of this unit. The medium-term and annual health plans for districts, and thereby provinces, are based on the broad strategic directions of the National Health Policy 2016–2025. The district annual plans are formulated based on the district health priorities and the provincial annual plans are formulated by consolidating the district plans. These, and the plans of line ministry directorates, institutes and special programmes are compiled to derive the annual plan of the Ministry of Health.
2.5.3 Role of development partners in policy and planning Development partners (DPs) refers to the lead technical agencies, donor agencies and international cooperation agencies based in a specific country. The influence of DPs on the policy and planning process is based on financial resources, technical expertise, and indirect financial and political incentives. Considering the policy formulation process in Sri Lanka to be principally nationally driven, the DPs, especially the lead technical agencies such as WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and, to a lesser extent, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), bring in best evidence, comparative information and standards on health from across the globe. For example, in the early stages of devolution of power in Sri Lanka when planning expertise at the provincial level was relatively weak, the DPs played a critical role in helping the government improve the planning capabilities of the provinces and districts. Further, these agencies may influence the policy and planning process through international conventions such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are also instances where the policy and planning process, especially that of financial direction and fund allocation, is influenced by donor agencies. For example, the current PHC reorganization and the introduction of an essential services package have been facilitated by the World Bank and WHO.
2.6 Intersectorality All major policy decisions on health are made collectively by the Cabinet of Ministers and cooperation is often sought between ministries and sectors on an ad hoc basis to deliver services. There is a parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health to ensure “health in all policies”. A key strategy for intersectoral action and coordination at all levels is the establishment of the National Health Development Network, consisting of
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