Advocacy, capacity and programmes for an accessible, affordable private health sector.
UHF informs policy with the private sector’s view, and carries programmes to the grassroots through its member associations.
The private sector’s view, in the rooms where policy is made.
UHF promotes the private health sector perspective in policy and legislation through working relationships with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, Kampala Capital City Authority, health development partners and the regulatory councils.
Advocacy follows members’ priority concerns, with allies including the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, the HIV/AIDS Coordination Committee, the Civil Society Budget Advisory Group and the Private Sector Health Advisory Committee.
Where UHF sits
SQIS+: self-regulation that any facility can start today.
The Self-Regulatory Quality Improvement System is a free, digital self-assessment for private health facilities. It checks 16 service elements, from governance and infection prevention to medicines, laboratory and records, and returns a risk-prioritised, time-bound improvement plan.
Developed by the Ministry of Health, the professional councils and UHF. Launched in 2016, upgraded to SQIS+ in 2020, and linked to free e-learning modules that close the gaps it finds.
Getting private facilities counted in the national record.
In 2021, data reporting from private health facilities stood at 47%: bulky paper HMIS tools, little technical support and the cost of delivering reports to district offices all stood in the way.
With support from the USAID Uganda Health Systems Strengthening Activity, UHF worked with the Ministry of Health in 2021 to develop the Medical Records and Data Reporting System (MRDRS): an offline electronic medical records system, approved by the Ministry, that captures patient visits, stock and billing, and generates DHIS2 reports automatically.
Is your facility’s data in DHIS2?
Hundreds of private facilities deliver HMIS reports each month that are not attributed to them in DHIS2. A facility that does not appear cannot qualify for national initiatives such as the planned medical credit scheme or the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Affordable capital for health businesses.
Private health providers face financing constraints as they try to provide quality services: lenders are reluctant where business skills, systems, credit history and conventional collateral are thin.
With support from partners, UHF created a Medical Credit Scheme through which Uganda’s health businesses can reach affordable capital, and works with them on the steps towards business and quality improvement.
A roadmap the private sector helped write.
With support from the African Collaborative for Health Financing Solutions, through Results for Development and USAID, UHF worked with the Ministry of Health and stakeholders on the Universal Health Coverage Roadmap for Uganda.
Training for the people who run and staff private facilities.
Finance and business management
Over 20 modules, from total quality management and customer care to cash management, budgeting and audit.
Epidemic response
COVID-19 case management with Ministry of Health approved modules; Ebola modules on infection prevention and control.
Consumer rights and patient safety
The 2009 Ministry of Health Patients’ Charter, translated into the running of a health business.
Data reporting
Regular training on HMIS tools, and help getting a facility’s data into DHIS2.
E-learning platform
Online courses and blended learning, so capacity building reaches facilities anywhere.
Convening the sector, platform by platform.
UHF steers the forums where private providers, government and partners meet.
Private Sector RMNCAH Platform
UHF steers the Uganda platform for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health under the Global Financing Facility.
Self-care Multi-Sectoral Sub Committee
Set up with the Ministry of Health to steer self-care in the public and private sectors; UHF serves as secretariat.
Supply Chain Engagement Platform
With the Ministry of Health: manufacturers, distributors, retailers and government on the private health supply chain.
East Africa Healthcare Federation
UHF hosted the inaugural EAHF conference in 2012 and is one of its sister federations.
Member networking events
Members and invited guests from the private and public sectors and civil society explore business opportunities.
Need this capacity in your programme?
UHF implements programmes with and through its members. Tell us what you are planning.