Country: Sierra Leone Case: Immunization Legislation Presented By: Hon. A.B.D. Sesay

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

2. Presentation Outline • Problems • Responsibilities • Immunization Legislation • Challenges and Next Steps

3. 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.

4. 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 Committeeprovides oversight and support.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Thank you.