Managing for Development Results at ADB

In 2008, Sri Lanka used about Rs 75 billion to operate and maintain 1,006 health institutions with a total workforce of 105,000. The admissions and outpatient visits totaled 4.46 million and 41,43 million, respectively. The magnitude and complexity of the healthcare system has called for effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the health sector's performance.

While vast improvements have materialized in Sri Lanka's health system, corporate planning emerged as a prerequisite in addressing the prevailing challenges to the system. In 2007, the Ministry of Health and Nutrition (MoHN) developed and launched a Health Master Plan (HMP) up to 2015. The HMP was based on five strategic objectives:

The HMP emphasized the importance of results-based monitoring in the implementation of the plan. The Management Development and Planning Unit of the MoHN created a Results-Based Performance Evaluation Framework (RBPEF) to give more focus on monitoring of outputs and outcomes.

Operationalizing RBPEF required strengthening planning capacities at district planning units to develop feasible and comprehensive annual and medium-term plans in line with the Health Sector Master Plan.

Achievements
The RBPEF has motivated health workers to be more results-oriented. It has enabled linking of planning and budgeting, definition of target results, monitoring progress, and taking necessary decisions to deliver the desired level of performance. MoHN has achieved its targets for providing curative and preventive health care services in 2007.