National Health Policy, 2007.

The National Health Policy of 2007, promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health and inspired by the constitutional principle according to which health must be public and all citizens must be guaranteed equal access and free primary health care, is a sectoral document that outlines the key directions for the development of the health sector whose reform has been identified as one of the main long-term priorities on the national agenda for post-conflict recovery.
The Policy Vision aims at building a healthy nation, thereby contributing to the achievement of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the overall social and economic development of the country. So that the Ministry Mission is to ensure the provision of health care to all citizens, with emphasis on the health needs of the poor, underserved, disadvantaged and vulnerable to make them able to lead socially and economically productive lives. The following guiding principles form the framework of the Policy (i) health will be a social right of all citizens, irrespective of their regional, religious, racial, gender, cultural or ethnic affiliation; (ii) health will be used to enhance peace-building, rehabilitation and economic development; (iii) the health system will be strengthened on the principles of primary health care; (iv) capacity in local health management, planning and policy will be built to create an enabling environment for decentralized units; and (v) an equitable and sustainable health care delivery system, especially for the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable, including those in underserved and conflict-affected areas, will be ensured.
Main goals of the Policy are (i) achieving equity and poverty reduction; (ii) ensuring investment in health; (iii) reaching the targets of the MDGs; (iv) preserving the rights of women and children; and (v) fighting disease and ignorance. To achieve these goals, the Ministry aims to (i) create appropriate conditions and institutions for people, giving them the opportunity and ability to make decisions about their health through the creation of mechanisms whereby the different groups become involved in the institutions assigned to undertake policy analysis at various levels; (ii) introduce a good quality health care, including the development of standard operating procedures, guidelines and protocols for the clinical practice and governance; (iii) create an environment that is conducive to partnership-building between different levels and different actors (universities, UN agencies, NGOs, countries and regional and international banks and donors) to allow an exchange of experience and of resources and to increase the commitment of all partners to achieve the realization of shared goals; (iv) collaborate with related sectors in promoting the provision of a safe water supply, a healthy environment and preventing all kinds of pollution; and (v) protect people against the financial cost of illness and treat them with dignity. In this regard, the Ministry will develop a Patients’ Bill of Rights that will provide, inter-alia, information on people’s rights in relation to information disclosure, choice of providers and treatment plans, access to emergency services, participation in treatment decisions; confidentiality of health information, complaints, and appeals. The health system will operate at two levels (i) the federal level, with the Ministry as responsible body, for the national issues and policies; and (ii) the local level where States and regions will be responsible for the formulation of local policies, plans, and strategies, according to federal guidelines, and the funding and implementation of plans.
A mechanism will be created to oversee the implementation of the policies agreed by all levels and shall be taken appropriate and adequate measures, including conducting advocacy and harnessing political commitment to ensure that the vision of the National Health Policy is translated into strategic and operational plans. The objectives of the Policy will also be systematically monitored through verifiable indicators and measurement tools.