About the Policy Bookshelf
Une version française de la Bibliothèque des Politique peut être trouvée ici.
As an advocate, it can be difficult to know what policy mechanism might solve the challenge you are advocating to overcome or find an example of a policy that has worked in similar contexts. That is why PATH has created this policy bookshelf. While not a comprehensive repository, it provides examples of model policies that can be translated to tackle a variety of health issues across diverse geographies.
We invite you to read through the case studies to understand why each policy was needed, and then review the policies themselves to see if they might be useful for your context.
We also welcome feedback and questions. Email us at advocacyandpolicy@path.org.
Using policy to protect funding for a lifesaving program
Example: Kakamega County Maternal Child Health and Family Planning Act 2017
The Kakamega County Maternal Child Health and Family Planning Act 2017 is an innovative use of legislation to safeguard funding outside of the normal budget cycle. The policy enshrines a lifesaving government program into law and ringfences funding to ensure its stability, regardless of future government priorities.
Key terms: Kenya, MNCH, Family Planning
A costed road map to strengthen data systems and use
Example: Tanzania Digital Investment Road Map
A first-of-its-kind achievement in the digital health field, Tanzania’s Digital Health Investment Road Map outlines investment recommendations with the highest potential value and alignment to national priorities.
Key terms: Tanzania, Digital Health
Utilizing provincial laws to garner resources for essential health services
Example: Immunization edicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Two provinces in the DRC, Tshopo and Bas-Uele, passed provincial-level policy frameworks outlining funding methods to ensure essential health services—including immunization—reach those who need them most.
Key terms: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Immunization
Updating a list to promote access to essential medicines
Example: Kenya Essential Medicines List, 2016
Updating indications and expanding drug use in Kenya’s national Essential Medicines List allows for increased government expenditure for management of postpartum hemorrhage.
Key terms: Kenya, Essential Medicines List
Operationalizing elimination goals with a national strategy
Example: DRC National Strategic Plan for human African trypanosomiasis elimination
The five-year National Strategic Plan aligns elimination goals and employs tools to screen, test, and treat for sleeping sickness in some of the most remote parts of the country.
Key terms: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Neglected Tropical Diseases
