Publication: The Expanded Program on Immunization in Pakistan : Recommendations for Improving Performance
Date
2012-04
ISSN
Published
2012-04
Author(s)
Masud, Tayyeb
Navaratne, Kumari Vinodhani
Abstract
The Expanded Program on Immunization
(EPI) in Pakistan protects against eight vaccine-preventable
diseases and immunizes children below 23 months of age. The
program was implemented under the Ministry of Health (MOH)
until July 11, 2011, when amendment 18 to the constitution
devolved health as a subject completely to the provinces.
Currently, the EPI is managed and implemented at the
provincial level with coordination provided by the Ministry
of inter provincial coordination. During the last decade,
EPI performance has been stagnant with only 40-60 percent of
children receiving the vaccines age-appropriately. Vaccine
preventable diseases are still a major cause for the high
infant and child mortality rates in Pakistan. Evidence
suggests that underachievement of the EPI is due to a
combination of factors including; inadequate performance in
the areas of service delivery, program management,
monitoring and evaluation, logistics control, human
resources management and financing, as well as community
health-seeking behaviors and other demand-side issues. The
recommendations include: (i) increasing focus on
supervision, monitoring and evaluation, (ii) considering
performance-based incentives, (iii) exploring partnerships
with the private sector, (iv) expediting polio eradication
initiatives, (v) improving management, (vi) increasing
targeted capacity development, (vii) concentrating on the
target age group for immunization, (viii) developing
socially acceptable strategies, (ix) developing a human
resource strategy and implementation plan, and (x) improving
planning at the local level.
Citation
“Masud, Tayyeb; Navaratne, Kumari Vinodhani. 2012. The Expanded Program on Immunization in Pakistan : Recommendations for Improving Performance. Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP)
discussion paper;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/c9018103-e02c-5e0f-8322-cb8946f22a8f License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”