Workshop on the "Results-Based Financial Allocation (RBF)" model

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of December 30th, in Vinh City, the Project Management Board for Health Support in North Central Vietnam, Nghe An province, organized a workshop to evaluate the pilot model of "Results-Based Financing (RBF)" for the period 2013-2014.

Attending from the central government were Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Mai, representative of the World Bank in Vietnam, and Mr. Ngo Minh Trung, coordinator of the Central Project Management Board. From the provincial side were representatives from the Provincial People's Committee Office, Dr. Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, along with leaders from the Provincial Department of Finance, the Provincial Social Insurance, and leaders from the hospitals, medical centers, and health stations receiving support. Mr. Hoang Van Hao - Deputy Director of the Department of Health and Director of the Project Management Board, presided over the meeting.

Overview of the conference

Nghe An is one of six provinces benefiting from the "Healthcare Support Project for North Central Provinces". Specifically, sub-component B - Supporting the strengthening of district-level healthcare services - is the "Pilot Project on Performance-Based Financing (RBF)", and Nghe An was the first province to pilot this model in 11 out of 20 districts and cities in the province, based on a set of indicators, from 2013 to the end of 2015.

The RBF pilot program was implemented in two groups. Group 1 was implemented from May 15, 2013 to December 2015 in Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong districts with 8 units. Group 2: Implemented from January 2014 to December 2015 in the remaining 9 districts: Including 9 general hospitals and 9 district health centers (Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Yen Thanh) and 28 commune health centers in the above 9 districts.

According to the quality index assessment in 11 pilot districts after implementing the RBF model, the indicators have improved significantly, especially at commune health stations and district hospitals. The RBF model has brought about changes in areas such as waste disposal, sterilization, medical examination and treatment, medication dispensing, treatment records, and the availability and quality of medical equipment, etc. However, the RBF model still faces many difficulties and obstacles in its implementation, such as: human resources, inadequate monitoring and evaluation plans, and insufficient medication dispensing and other expenses.

At the workshop, representatives from the beneficiary units presented their views, highlighting the advantages, difficulties, and obstacles encountered during the implementation of the RBF model, as well as proposed solutions for the future.

Concluding the workshop, Pharmacist Hoang Van Hao emphasized: Lessons learned from the implementation of the RBF model in the two groups are needed to achieve better results in subsequent years. In addition, it is necessary to quickly and efficiently resolve existing difficulties and obstacles. Furthermore, the RBF team, along with consulting experts from the CPMU and relevant departments of the Department of Health, should coordinate to monitor and support the units benefiting from the Project.

Thuy Hien - Quynh Trang