HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP
UK/LIBYA
Stuart E Smalley, MSc, CIHM, FIHM, FCMI
International Advisor
Department of Health
Health Policy Development - Libya
The National Health Policy
• Framework for health programmes to deliver healthcare free of
charge to all citizens
• Public Health Law 106 declared that health is the right of all people
and it is to be guaranteed by the State
• To promote the development of comprehensive healthcare including
public health, preventative services, mental health, occupational
health and social care for the elderly
• Emphasis on promoting equity in access to healthcare systems
Healthcare in Libya
Healthcare coverage has increased
• GDP
3.8%
• Access to safe water supply
98%
• Sanitation
95%
• Childhood immunisation
99%
• Prenatal care
81%
Life expectancy
• Males
70 (77)
• Females
75 (81)
• Infant mortality
18 per 1000 live births (5)
• Under 5
19 per 1000 live births (6)
*UK Figures in brackets
Memorandum of Cooperation
Signed by Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and
Environment at the World Health Assembly, Geneva – May 2008
Joint Healthcare Task Force
• Disease Surveillance
• Primary Care Development
• Management Education / Development
• Postgraduate Education
• Specific General Management Projects
PRIMARY CARE DEVELOPMENT
• A pilot project to develop wider multi disciplinary team working
• Marketing & promoting the benefits of primary care to the people in
the Shabiya
•Training trainers
•Developing skills for medicine management
DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
Health Protection Agency
• Policy/Strategy Development
• Infection Control/Protection
• Infectious Diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS
• Assistance Re MRSA to Tripoli Medical Centre ‘June 2008’
(Visit by UK HPA Team)
• Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital – Benghazi Project
Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State (Public
Health) visited Libya November
2008
Key areas of collaboration
• Robust relationships now established
• Clear evidence that Libya wants to introduce private sector skills
into healthcare arena
• Priorities - postgraduate training programmes – medical staff
- management training programmes for hospital
directors
- disease surveillance and laboratory improvement
- links on bone marrow transplants & ophthalmology
Royal Colleges visited Re selection process for doctors
InFact Ltd (Re installation of Health Protection Agency disease
surveillance programme – ‘HP Zone’
Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital
- two visits to review laboratories – at Elfutah Hospital,
Benghazi
DH Official – Stuart Smalley – visit to Tripoli March 2009
Submission of Masters Programmes in Health Management from UK
Universities
Visit by Rt Hon Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health
visits Tripoli June 2009
Visit to UK H.E Mr Mohamed Hijazi, Secretary of Health
Oct 2009
• Mr M Hijazi stated that he wants to further develop
relationships with UK as preferred partner.
• Training necessary as a priority.
•200 doctors and 100 nurses to UK for language training
• Libya requires good hospital managers
-Keen to improve training and welcome UK Managers
to Libya
• Primary care and cancer remain priority areas.
•Stuart Smalley DH met Health Secretary Nov 2009
•MoU signed and exchanged
•Funding issues resolved
CONCLUSIONS
• Health agenda has secured good relationships between
UK/Libya
• Evidence of business development opportunities.
• UK preferred partner.