Kenya Core Package Final Report: Improving Access to Family Planning Services in Public Sector Facilities for Poor/Underserved Populations in Kenya POLICY (January 2006)  Full Document (English)      Order for free      email to me  The POLICY Project implemented a core package of research and technical assistance to assist the government of Kenya in understanding the costs associated with the provision of family planning (FP) services over the period from 2003-2005. In implementing the financing part of the package, special attention was paid to addressing the needs of the poor, with free or highly subsidized services being delivered to such groups. This subsidy aspect of the package was introduced at the stage of developing guidelines for the implementation of user fees, waivers, and exemptions. Implementation of user fees was designed to generate revenue to maintain availability of FP services and strengthen the quality of those services while expanding access to the poor and underserved. Activities included analysis of current fee charging practices; analysis of operational policies affecting FP fees, waivers, and exemptions; market segmentation analysis; review of willingness and ability to pay; and development of draft pricing guidelines for FP services. POLICY core package activities led to a critical change of position on the merits of cost sharing by the Ministry of Health. The draft pricing guidelines will enable the government to enact an effective, evidence-based approach to implementing user fees, waivers, and exemptions for FP services. These results will ultimately lead to improved access to high-quality FP services for all social groups, including the the poor and currently underserved populations. This report documents the POLICY Project's core package in Kenya, taking into consideration the family planning and economic context in which the FP services are provided; key stakeholders; activities and products; key research findings; and lessons learned. The FP financing experience in Kenya has potential for replication in other countries.