HSRSP will assist local bodies to become responsible for and capable of managinghealth facilities in a participative, transparent, and accountable way with effectivesupport from the MoHP and its sector partners. In 2007-8, among other activities, HSRSP will create a “Decentralization Policy Forum,” develop a plan and guidelines to decentralize management, focusing on de-concentration, assess experiences of facilities handed over to local health management committees, and revise or develop orientation, training & capacity-building packages for local health management committees.

HSRSP will help develop appropriate partnerships with private and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in delivering health services will be developed with representation at all levels to ensure consumers have access to cost-effective and high-quality services that offer value for money. In 2007-8, among other activities, HSRSP will create a “PPP Policy Forum,” support a private health sector assessment and document PPP practices and lessons learned in the health sector and its sub-sectors, and support a legal assessment for improving a policy and regulatory framework.

HSRSP will provide technical assistance that promotes access to and use of affordable, high-quality health services by groups formerly excluded, including conflict affected people. In 2007-8, among other activities, HSRSP will help establish a “Social Inclusion Unit” in the MoHP and in hospitals, and prepare guidelines for programme managers and providers.

HSRSP will develop and promote sustainable health financing and resource allocation across the sector, including alternative financing schemes. In 2007-8, among other activities, HSRSP will prepare a background paper on the implications of free health care, conduct an equity analysis of district resource allocation and revise the formula, report on costing of free care policy and the viability of options, and develop a monitoring mechanism for free care, including quality of care.

HSRSP will strengthen MoHP’s financial systems to meet the requirements of good financial management—accurate and reliable information to facilitate delivery of programs and relate expenditures to program performance. In the first year, among other activities, HSRSP will report on bottlenecks that constrain release of funds and help amend procedures, revise procedures for preparing the “Financial Monitoring Report” and “Implementation Progress Report,” and support training and other capacity-building measures for accounting staff working at cost centres.

HSRSP will help the MoHP redefine its mandate and organizational structure, and develop and implement systems for human and material resources, and other management functions, which are socially inclusive and conflict sensitive. In 2007-8, among other activities, HSRSP will develop guidelines for health care waste management, help establish a “Health Care Waste Management Unit,” and consolidate findings and recommend a new MoHP structure and functions, and delineate relationships with non-state partners.

HSRSP will help create a coordinated and consistent sector management (planning, programming, budgeting, financing, and performance management) within the MoHP supported by the external development partners (EDPs). In 2007-8, HSRSP will review and strengthen guidelines for organizing and conducting “Annual Work Planning and Budgeting” (AWPB) and the “Joint Annual Review” (JAR), translate the “Health Sector Strategy” (HSS) & “NHSP-IP” into Nepali and disseminate, and document lessons learned on SWAp, NHSP-IP, the pros and cons of pooled funding, and enhance its effectiveness.

In addition to the above technical assistance to be provided by HSRSP, a Technical Assistance Review Panel (TARP) will manage an Unallocated Technical Assistance (UTA) fund to address unforeseen critical health reform-related issues that are included in or are beyond the seven output areas above. A separate UTA fund reserves the resources to allow HSRSP to respond quickly to new challenging issues.