The project is to enable lower level health facilities improve delivery by networking them into bigger primary health organizations aimed at promoting quality and equitable Primary Health Care (PHC) at all levels of the health system.

The project would “facilitate the provision of technical and management support whiles strengthening service delivery capacity and referral pathways”, a brief made available to the press said.It said the system would increase the efficiency of payment and resource flows to care providers by mobilizing resources and setting up group bank accounts.

The pilot would also make policy and operational recommendations, and carve out varieties of network modules to guide nationwide implementation. South Tongu and South Dayi districts had been short-listed for the 18-month project and would be coordinated by a Technical Working Group that would provide leadership and technical support.

A total of 12 health centres and 19 Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds comprising of 193 health workers would be part of the project. Challenges such as the lack of basic equipment at lower level health facilities and the uneven distribution of health personnel had been identified for redress.  Dr. Awudu Tinorgah, Design Consultant, Systems for Health, at the launch in Ho, said some health institutions had already formed inter-organisational networks to become more effective in achieving set goals, and that the nation’s sub-district system with health centres coordinating CHPS zones formed a logical unit for the project.

He said following the NHIA’s capitation pilot in Ashanti, independent evaluations recommended that organising “group practices” would be an efficient way of attaining universal health coverage.