Recommended readings
Reproductive health commodity security (RHCS) country case studies synthesis: Cambodia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia
Increased coordination, support and national accountability needed in reproductive health commodity security
Authors:
N. Druce
Publisher:
Department for International Development Health Resource Centre (HRC), 2006
This report, commissioned by the UK Department for International Development and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, analyses the key factors that influence the financing, procurement, forecasting, and supply of reproductive commodities and how national and international agents interface and co-ordinate their activities. Findings show that while there have been some successes to strengthen commodity supply, there are continued limitations in national capacity. They also highlight how the role of external agencies in financing and procurement tends to undermine ownership and discourage national government accountability.
The report recommends continued advocacy to include reproductive health and RHCS in national development and health policy plans, supported by domestic budgets allocations. It also highlights the need for financial mechanisms to facilitate more flexible and predictable donor financing, as well as to enable efficient procurement with lower costs. Other recommendations include: mainstreaming RHCS with wider health systems strengthening; repositioning reproductive health as a key but neglected driver in the reduction of child and maternal mortality, as well as a priority in its own right; and linking reproductive health services with care, treatment and prevention of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), HIV and AIDS. The report also recommends that international donors need to make more long term and predictable commitments to RH supplies, which should build national capacity for procurement and other supply functions. [adapted from author]
