Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) researchers shared in Dar es Salaam today results of the national Star Rating Program evaluation done by IHI for two months – from July to August – this year. The program, whose primary objective is improving the quality of health care at all health facilities by ranking them based on their performance, was implemented in 2018.

Evaluation project Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Sanam Roder-DeWan, accompanied by the entire team of scientists who participated in the evaluation including co-PI, Donat Shamba, presented results of the Population Action International (PAI)-funded assessment which generally concluded that the program supports primary care facilities to improve quality in Tanzania.

On attendance were: representatives from the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children; President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government); members of the Development Partners – Health; a representative of the District Medical Officers chair; and IHI scientists.

About Star Rating Program

Tanzania became a ‘Trailblazer’ Country for the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative (PHCPI) by completing a vital signs profile of its primary health care system in 2018. Data were collected at every primary care facility (over 5000) and fed this information back to facilities for the planning of improvement strategies.

Though the program has been successful in its reach and has demonstrated the ability to mobilize system leadership around improvement, no assessment of the system had been conducted. The Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children was awarded a grant to evaluate the Star Rating System and make recommendation for improving the system.

Ifakara Health Institute was commissioned by the ministry to carry out the evaluation.

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