SPARC (strategic purchasing african resources center) is a resource center hosted by Amref Health Africa with technical support from Results for Development (R4D). SPARC aims to strengthen strategic purchasing capacity in sub-Saharan Africa by connecting existing regional expertise and matching it with country demand to make better use of resources for health. Its vision is to equip countries with the knowledge and practical tools to make access to affordable, quality healthcare a reality for all.
From July 25 to 28, 2022, SPARC and its 11 technical partners from 10 countries, including Burkina Faso’s RESADE (Research for Health and Development) represented by Dr Joël Arthur Kiendrébéogo and Dr Charlemagne Tapsoba, met for a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania. Two Burkina Faso technicians were also invited to the workshop: Dr S. Pierre Yaméogo, ST/CSU, and Dr Alfred Ouédraogo, former Director General of CNAMU.
The aim of the meeting was to take stock of activities carried out between 2020 and 2022, and to discuss ways of improving collaboration with countries and further developing the partnership to bring it to scale.
Discussions during the workshop focused on three main points:
– How to improve knowledge of how countries are progressing in strategic healthcare purchasing;
– Raise awareness among decision-makers and technicians on how to make progress in strategic healthcare purchasing thanks to the State budget;
– Identify the best engagement modalities to support strategic purchasing reforms in countries.
