Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategic Planning within the Palestinian Healthcare Sector رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Healthcare sector in Palestine faces many obstacles since it has been formed, and many attempts has been made to build the health sector under special occupational circumstances. However, strategic planning is formed to strengthen the health sector and create opportunities for a developed sector which can assimilate the Palestinian society. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of strategic planning process performed by the Ministry of Health within the Palestinian healthcare sector and assessment of the strategic planning formation process, this includes a view of the Palestinian internal and external environments, besides evaluation of the formation steps of the Palestinian healthcare sector and strategic plans formed over years. The framework of this research includes a general strategic planning view, and an overview of the Palestinian healthcare sector and services, also desc ription and analysis of the formation process of strategic planning in Palestine including steps and barriers, then the documentation, follow up and implementation processes has been exposed. Moreover, a detailed analysis of every primary and essential healthcare plan performed from 90s until these days. Findings of the study show that the Palestinian healthcare sector has a great chance to be developed to a better level when performed with formal strategic planning process, with all commitment spirits and step from all partners. The process of creating a strategic plan document is effective but it needs strict follow up and observed implementation within the Palestinian context in relation with the internal and external barriers mentioned. The public sector plays a major role in the planning process which has the great responsibility to build up the healthcare sector in coordination with the private sector, but there is a big gap between the two sectors which needs to be solved, to end up with an effective strategic plan and effective objectives to be achieved and implemented. V In addition, the findings indicate that the implementation process is weak and needs to be monitored and evaluated within timelines and distributed roles to apply plans and get the maximum outcomes.