Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Capacity, Key Accomplishments and Situational Analysis for NCDs in South Asian Countries(cont...)

Many qualified professionals fled the country during the conflict. Currently, approximately 3,000–4,000 physicians are in the country but they are particularly scarce in rural areas. There is a severe shortage of medical specialists in NCDs (especially psychiatry). Training institutions were weakened and some collapsed during the conflict.

However, neighboring countries are providing assistance. International agencies assisted with establishing a national Midwifery Education Accreditation Board in 2005.
At least 19 schools had been accredited by early 2007. The country’s health system is mainly financed by private out-of-pocket expenditure and development partners. The estimated total expenditure on health was US$48 per capita in 2008, of which 79 percent is from private sources (out of pocket, development assistance, and NGOs).

Public spending per capita was about US$10. Heavy reliance on external funding will pose a
significant threat to the sustainability of the country’s health system. NGOs collect health information and most participate in the quality assessment evaluations to gain contract extensions/renewals for delivering services. However, none of the elements is particularly focused on NCDs or mental health and they are not aggregated at the population level.

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