Partnerships for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS)

Region: Africa
Country: Nigeria
Client: DFID
Date: 2002-2008

The Partnerships for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS) was a £52 million, six-year DFID-funded technical assistance programme operating in six states in Nigeria (Benue, Ekiti, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano) and at federal level. The programme aimed to improve the delivery and use of effective, pro-poor health services for the management of common health problems by improving partnerships, local ownership and responses from existing health services. It was implemented by a consortium led by HLSP which comprised of GRID Consulting (Nigeria), Johns Hopkins University, Health Partners International and Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health.

PATHS supported the vision of a new policy and legislative framework at both federal and state level. Within this framework, it focused on systems strengthening activities that ranged from planning and budgeting to sustainable drug supply systems and health management information systems. The systems strengthening focus was underpinned by a change management approach: IMPACT.

PATHS also supported the development of prioritised, costed and operationalised health policies and plans. Service delivery interventions concentrated on health Millennium Development Goals priorities including child mortality, maternal, neonatal and child health, and HIV, malaria and other diseases.

PATHS worked to strengthen the policy framework and the systems needed including key supply-side components (e.g. infrastructure, equipment, drugs and supplies, clinical and interpersonal skills, and quality assurance systems). At the same time, demand-side interventions increased community awareness of priority health conditions and strengthened the community voice in managing and demanding accountability for health services. Other interventions increased the community’s capacity to address priority health conditions within the community and household.

Activities to improve access to medicines included:

• reform of the revolving drug fund mechanisms and supporting financial systems
• improving the functioning of state medical stores
• producing a drug directory to help counteract the high prevalence of counterfeit drugs
• strengthening the licensed patent medicine vendor services
• developing the capacity of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Pharmacists' Council of Nigeria
• raised civil society and consumer awareness of drug quality and supply issues

Technical area:

• Governance and organisational development
• Access to medicines
• Health economics and financing
• Health information systems
• Maternal, neonatal and child health