Quality in Health Centres and Dispensaries

Quality improvement activities in dispensaries and health centres are often limited to supervision.

In Tanga Region an approach has been tested to combine supervision with external assessment, in order to introduce a ranking of the performance of health facilities. A supervision checklist - based on the EFQM-Model - was worked out and supervisors were trained to process the respective data by computer. The checklist has been filled in quarterly by the supervisors, so that the findings of four assessments built the basis for an annual ranking.

The best performing facilities have been awarded during a public health day. The methodology, which in the beginning was owned by all CHMTs, was later abandoned by the supervisors.

The main problem was the combination of supportive supervision with external assessment. The experience taught all stakeholders some lessons, which will be used to improve the approach. In particular, there will be a combination of self-assessment and external assessment, which will be separated from supervision activities.

Additional information is available in the 'Downloads Section'.