Country: Sierra Leone Case: Immunization Legislation Presented By: Hon. A.B.D. Sesay Chairman, Parliamentary Health Committee House of Parliament Sabin Peer Review Workshop on Sustainable Immunization Financing Abuja, 19 th – 21 st April, 2016

Presentation Outline Problems Responsibilities Immunization Legislation Challenges and Next Steps

Problems Currently no legislation on immunization financing The National EPI Policy guidelines include: –All vaccines are to be provided free of charge –Need to achieve financial sustainability of the National Immunization Program; –Alignment and integration of immunization financing with national planning and budgeting processes and timelines; –Need for urgent enactment of Immunization Legislation Chapter II, Section 8 (Social objectives), Provision 3 of the 1991 Sierra Leonean Constitution states that the government will ensure that all citizens have easy access to adequate medical and health facilities.

Responsibilities –The Ministry of Health and Sanitation is responsible for ensuring adequate access to medical and health facilities, including vaccines; –The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is primarily responsible for the funding of the National Immunization Program (with support from partners and donors); and –The Parliamentary Health and Sanitation Committee provides oversight and support.

Champions House of Parliament –Hon. A.B.D. Sesay, Chairman, Parliamentary Health Committee Ministry of Health and Sanitation –Dr. Brima Kargbo, Chief Medical Officer Ministry of Finance and Economic Development –Mr. Edmund Koroma, Financial Secretary –Mr. Peter Sam-Kpakra, Deputy Financial Secretary

Immunization Legislation - 1 The legislation is being developed, and will be based on the National Immunization Policy; it will affect: Which vaccines the country uses Financing of vaccines Vaccine procurement Regulation of vaccine safety Mandatory vaccinations Access to vaccines: Target groups How, by whom, vaccinations will be provided

Immunization Legislation - 2 Three pronged approach to the development of immunization Legislation: –Parliament, the Law Officer’s Department (LOD), MOHS and MOFED are collaborating to produce a Cabinet Paper as a precursor to a draft law. The LOD is to spearhead the law drafting process immediately; –Inclusion of immunization-related clauses in the 1960 Public Health Act that is under revision and will have to be ratified by Parliament; and –Submission of Private Member’s Bill by the Chairman, Parliamentary Health and Sanitation Committee, Hon. A.B.D. Sesay.

Challenges and Next Steps –Frequent turnover of members of the Parliamentary Health Committee –Frequent changes of the management of the EPI Potential Solutions. –Identify and mentor some permanent clerical staff of the HoP who could maintain an institutional memory that will be useful when briefing new parliamentary committee members –Intensify efforts to institutionalize EPI innovations like introduction of SIF advocacy activities into the routine immunization and SIA planning cycles Implementing Authority. –House of Parliament – Speaker and members of the health committees and the Parliamentary Forum for Immunization –Ministry of Health/ Child Health-EPI Next Steps. Convene regular meetings withParliament, Law Officers’ Department, MoHS/ EPI, and MoFED to consultatively chart the way forward.

Thank you.