UNAids for harmonised healthcare service delivery
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAids) has called for harmonisation and standardisation of operating procedures among players in the health sector to ensure delivery of quality healthcare to patients.
UNAids country representative Amakobe Sande noted on Thursday that the prevailing lack of harmonisation and standardisation of operating procedures among players in the sector have denied patients a right to quality healthcare.
She said lack of coordination, harmonisation and cooperation in the health sector has also seen other areas being denied healthcare services because providers have crowded one area leaving others unattended.
Sande warned that Malawi risks failing to achieve the 90 percent target UNAids has set for countries to retain people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and have their viral load suppressed by 2020 if the players do not harmonise and standardise their procedures.
She said: “Malawi is getting ready to move to a test and treat strategy by April 2016, which will bring additional burden to the health sector. With Ministry of Health leadership, therefore, it is high time players in the health sector came together to harmonise standard operating procedures for the selected interventions for all sites regardless of the implementing partner support.”
She said community engagement is critical in helping players identify an additional 300 000 persons living with HIV and Aids who are not yet on treatment.
