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.