Preliminary analysis and agenda-setting
The identification of needs with respect to hypertension and diabetes is followed by an initial analysis of the hypertension or diabetes challenge. Findings suggest that issues discussed here deal with an understanding of what the challenge is, the extent or degree of the challenge, who is affected and how they are affected, which stakeholders are relevant for the policy, etc. In Ghana, the way hypertension and diabetes needs are identified and analysed tie in with the agenda-setting process. The hypertension and diabetes agenda is usually the outcome of the holistic assessment from which the needs or challenges are determined. The agenda is heavily influenced by the health outcomes and shaped by the initial analyses that are conducted. The agenda could be the way forward for a year or period of years but details the alternatives available and the choices to be made. The agenda when set, known as aide memoire in Ghana, is then signed by the MOH and development partners and becomes an actionable document for the health sector and development partners to work with.
After setting the agenda and looking at options in terms of interventions, a concept note is developed and a Core Working Group to look at the day-to-day activities relating to the policy is constituted. This group does a rapid assessment of current policies vis-‘a-vis the current global, regional, and national contexts, looking at certain directions of the proposed policy. Policy experts therefore have a working document at the back of their minds before meeting stakeholders. A Technical Working Group made up of knowledgeable and experienced people mostly outside the MOH may be constituted to assist in developing the policy. In certain instances, a Steering Committee is constituted with oversight responsibilities over the Technical Committee activities and endorses its work.