1. Group # 2 Meredith Gumbs Irad Potter Maltie Mohan-Algoe Mireille Kantiebo Pall Edwards David Taylor Monica Bolis

2. General Concerns The concept of the EPHF is fairly new to the countries The delineation of the steering role of the MH is even newer However EPHF have helped to orient on the role of the State in health

3. General Concerns The documents produced in the last years call for the strengthening to the MH Although decentralization has been developed in some countries the new roles of the MH have not yet been defined The up-dating of legislation has been centered in supporting decentralization initiatives

4. Degree of applicability It is difficult to determine since after the first assessment was made in 2002 there was no follow up Since the scores were accumulative all questions should be answer again

5. Weaknesses and strengths Weaknesses: –Human resources management –Quality assurance –Research Strength: –Disaster preparedness

6. Priority assigned to stewardship Awareness has been increased on the need to strengthen stewardship The potential of the MH to lead has also increased However, the stewardship role of the MH has to be institutionalized by legislation Also needed are adequate and competent human resources Criteria needed as well to identify and rank key priorities

7. Priority assigned to stewardship Need for information system to strengthen the capacity for stewardship Development of organizational and management capacity for stewardship

8. Gender [sex], ethnicity and age groups Gender [sex] and age groups are politically and technically relevant since targeted interventions may lead to better health outcomes Ethnicity is also politically and technically relevant since ethnicity can be a predisposing factor to certain diseases