Table 2 Checklist for measuring the minimum key requirements of health equity policy processes:
Agenda setting | Policy development | Implementation and Evaluation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Approach on strategies | Examples of equity centric strategies | Examples of equity centric strategies | Â |
› Specific policy or policy approach on health equity | › Clearly defined participatory, decentralized and bottom-up planning, implementation and evaluation strategies | › Efforts to mobilize and pool people's social, financial and physical resources for social needs (e.g. philanthropies, corporate social responsibility, community resources, social capital etc.) | › Sensitization of all stakeholders on health equity to ensure appropriate policy decisions and accountability | › In-built equity surveillance or indicator based implementation and monitoring of programs |
› Acceptance of health as a right | › Strategies for comprehensive inclusion of all vulnerable groups and their needs and differential plans | › Essential service package and quality assurance for vulnerable groups | › Sensitization on health equity in all pre-service and in-service trainings | › Periodical impact evaluation of programs on equity (e.g. Social and Beneficiary Assessment, Benefit-Incidence Analysis etc.) |
› Optimal prioritization of diseases, public health interventions and other social determinants | › Defined strategies in mobilizing, pooling and allocation of resources and services based on needs by tapping the potential resources, and using evidences | › Incentives, subsidies or financial risk-protection measures to enhance physical, financial and social access to care | › Capacity development of lower level health facilities to address equity with defined role, resources and monitoring | › Encouragement of exploratory research on health determinants, health outcomes and health policy processes |
› Encouragement of participatory approaches | › Defined strategies for inter-sectoral convergence and provision of public health goods | › Public health regulations to ensure quality, affordable and acceptable care (clinical guidelines, price and quality controls, citizens charters) and grievance redressal mechanisms |  |  |
› Emphasis on physical, financial and social access to care | › Attempts on integrated planning of strategies, their implementation and evaluation by health and allied departments |  |  |  |
› Focus on evidences for differential planning |  |  |  |  |
› Integrated approach of health and other social and public policies |  |  |  |  |