The Policy Unit established in 2014 under the umbrella of the Research and Development Department. Since its establishment and throughout the years the unit has been working on key policies that are crucial for the development of health system in Sudan.
The specific functions of the unit are to generate evidence to support policy formulation as identify and prioritize key policy areas, in addition to review policies and coordinate policy development; besides building the capacity of staff at PHI and Federal Ministry of Health in the area of Policy.

Achievements :

All policies were preceded by situation analysis or research studies to generate evidence and policy options. The main achievements are:
• Development of five key policies (Family Health Policy, Health In All Policies,     Health Finance Policy, Health Finance Strategy, Global Health strategy and Policy system).
• Conduction of policy priority exercise and capacity assessment in regards to policy.
All policies were preceded by situation analysis or research studies conducted prior to development of policies development to generate evidence.

Priority areas of 2016:

• Developing and strengthening of governing structures of health policy.
• Capacity building in health policy.
• Establishment and strengthening of monitoring system for health policies.
• Approval of priority policies and securing fund.
• Dissemination of endorsed policies and development of the national health policy.

Brief descriptions of some of the research studies conducted to support evidence generation are outlined below:

Family Health Study

The organization and situation of the current family health training and practice was not well documented. Without proper documentation and situation analysis for the strengths and weaknesses, the policy will not tackle the gaps in an evidence-based manner. Therefore, a cross sectional mixed method survey conducted during April-June 2015 to describe the situation of family health training programs in Sudan, to assess the implementation of family health practice in Khartoum and Gezira states and to assess the satisfaction level of family physicians and trainees. The result was use to inform the policy development and formed a baseline from which the target can be set.

Health Finance System Study

A technical committee in PHI conducted a comprehensive assessment for the health care financing system in Sudan using a tool called Organisational Assessment for Improving and Strengthening Health Financing, or the OASIS/Excel Aid, which developed by WHO. On May 2014 the final draft of the review had been released. The outcome of the review was a set of recommendations to improve the health financing system, which created basis for formulation of policy options and health financing policy. Recommendations are classified into to the main functions of health financing (collection, pooling and purchasing) beside stewardship.

Policy system study

A study had been conducted through PHI to assess the current situation according to a framework that had been agreed on previously; review the customary practice and to conduct SWOC analysis for the health policy system. The outcome of the study was a set of recommendation for strengthen the health policy system and suggest a clear framework for the policy development process

Health in All Policies study

PHI had conducted a study in February 2015 to assess the current understanding and excising activities of HiAP approach. It had been performed in three stages, firstly, preliminary interviews with key policy makers in the ministry of health. Secondly, an introductory meeting to identify the sectors involved in the intersectoral relation with ministry of health. And lastly, a questionnaire had been distributed for data collection. The data from the questionnaire was structured according to the analytic frame that had been endorsed by WHO assembly as a framework for country.

International Health Policy:

Community Consultation.pdf

Health Finance Policy.pdf

Health Financing System.pdf

Health in all policies.pdf

Strengthening Primary Health Care.pdf