The Bank's Human Development Department (OSHD) undertook a mission to Tripoli from September 28- to October 3, 2013 to hold talks with the Ministry of Health on potential technical assistance activities, and to participate in a workshop organized by the Ministry.
During the workshop, the European Union, WHO and AfDB announced a joint partnership to implement programmes in these priority areas. These activities will be conducted under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and in close cooperation with the General National Congress' Health Committee, the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Ministry of Finance. A clear division of labour will be conducted to ensure maximum synergy amongst all donors in order to achieve quick impact of outcomes sought.
The objective of the workshop, entitled "Health Financing Options & Experiences" was to identify the priorities of the health sector in Libya, and to discuss the health insurance mechanisms that could be adopted in the country. Some of the priority areas identified include: rolling out the first National Health Accounts to monitor and track the utilisation of resources, and to launch a study in order to explore the burden of diseases across the country.
His Excellency Dr. Nourddin Dogman, the Libyan Minister of Health, thanked the AfDB for participating in the success of the training and for exploring different ways to support Libya during these critical times of transition. H.E. Dr. Dogman signed a letter of endorsement of a Middle Income Countries Technical Assistance Fund (MIC TAF) grant in the area of public expenditure management to be submitted to the Bank.
The AfDB delegates briefed the Deputy Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health on the Value for Money Sustainability and Accountability in Social Sectors training program that is being implemented by the Bank in order to help countries address inefficiencies in social spending.
This mission follows a previous North Africa Regional Department's (ORNA) mission to Libya in March 2013, and the subsequent dialogue with the Libyan authorities on the topic of assistance in improving the management of Libya's public resources and service delivery.