As we begin to wrap up Season 2 of the Provider Payment Mechanisms podcast, we took some time to reflect on each of our three themes and how they came together this season. We asked you, our listeners, to send in any questions you had throughout and in this episode we took some time to answer them. Again we're joined by our two technical experts, Dr. Kamaliah Noh and Tsolmon Tsilaajav, as well as Cheryl Cashin, Managing Direction of the Results for Development Project. 

Even though this is the final episode of Season 2, we still encourage you to contribute any questions or thoughts you have via email at [email protected].

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

Strategic purchasing of health services is key to incentivizing quality care and maintaining provider motivation. This episode will examine country innovations in Liberia, Malaysia and Moldova to incentivize quality through financial and non-financial incentives.

Before our third episode on incentivizing quality and translating strategic purchasing into quality care, we want to give you a chance to get to know our key country voices. In this episode we'll be joined by Dr. Rima Marhayu and Dr. Safiee Mohamed from Malaysia, Vera Mussah from Liberia, and Dr. Ghenadie Damascan from Moldova, to discuss why they're passionate about their work, as well as learn about a few fun facts about each country.

In episode two, countries share the data sources they rely on to make the right decisions on what services to buy, and which providers to buy from. While data sources and systems vary across countries, we'll look at how Ethiopia and Mongolia’s journeys have illustrated how they have catalyzed strategic purchasing efforts using what they have.

As you listen to this episode, if you would like to contribute any questions or thoughts, send us a voice message through the "Message" button on Anchor.fm, or reach out via email at [email protected]. 

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

In anticipation of our second episode on Analytic and the Core Tenet of Being a Strategic Purchaser, we want to give you a chance to get to know our key country voices. In this episode we'll be joined by Dereje Mengistu from Ethiopia and Batbayar Ankhbayar from Mongolia, to discuss why they're passionate about their work, as well as learn about a few fun facts about each country.

As you listen to this episode, if you would like to contribute any questions or thoughts, send us a voice message through the "Message" button on Anchor.fm, or reach out via email at [email protected].

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

Each country has its own pathway in terms of provider payment mechanism improvements. Solutions are truly contextual – barriers in one country might be an opportunity in another, while solutions that were successful in one country may be unsuccessful in another. This episode will examine what we call "big bang" reforms, or the design and scale up of The Philippines and Egypt’s recent UHC schemes. It will also tie in some new themes, such as the role that data played in developing these new schemes.

As you listen to this episode, if you would like to contribute any questions or thoughts, send us a voice message through the "Message" button on Anchor.fm, or reach out via email at [email protected].

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

Before our first episode on Innovating for Universal Health Coverage, we want to give you a chance to get to know our key country voices. In this episode we'll be joined by Dr. Marvin Galvez from The Philippines and Dr. Ahmed Seyam from Egypt, to discuss why they're passionate about their work, as well as learn about a few fun facts about each country. 

As you listen to this episode, if you would like to contribute any questions or thoughts, send us a voice message through the "Message" button on Anchor.fm, or reach out via email at [email protected].

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

In the opening episode of this season, you'll meet two of our technical experts, Dr. Kamaliah Noh and Tsolmon Tsilaajav as they discuss the link between the last season and this new season of this podcast. You'll hear a little bit about each of the upcoming episodes, as well as gain some insight as to why exactly we chose these topics.

As you listen to this episode, if you would like to contribute any questions or thoughts, send us a voice message through the "Message" button on Anchor.fm, or reach out via email at [email protected].

To view and download a transcript of this episode, click here.

Finally, the miniseries concludes with an episode on costing of health services. Experiences from Lebanon, Egypt and the Philippines provide insights into how costing can be carried out in a variety of different contexts. Insights from Dr. Rawan Hammoud and Dr. Ola Kdouh of Lebanon and Dr. Ahmed Khalifa of Egypt discuss some of the common challenges countries face when conducting costing exercises and the creative solutions these countries developed to solve such challenges. Dr. Ish Paragas of the Philippines then demonstrates the value that institutionalizing costing processes can have. Like the other technical episodes, this one concludes with insights from technical facilitators Dr. Tsolmon Tsilaajav and Dr. Cheryl Cashin.

Dr. Kenneth Munge shares the process Kenya undertook to develop a health benefits package—defining what services would be included and excluded for the push towards UHC. This episode details the process of developing the package, including the stakeholder engagement required and both the strengths and areas for improvement for the process undertaken. At the conclusion of the episode, Dr. Kamaliah Noh and Dr. Cheryl Cashin discuss how Kenya’s experience relates to some of the common challenges countries frequently face when developing a benefit package and the importance of discussing how benefits will be purchased and paid for from the beginning of the package design process.