Key strategic objectives of the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan by domain*
| Service delivery | SO 1.1 Ensure the equitable distribution of SOA services throughout Tanzania from health centre to national levels |
| SO 1.2 Improve the national SOA referral system | |
| SO 1.3 Strengthen perioperative services at all health facility levels | |
| SO 1.4 Strengthen outreach services from zonal and regional hospitals to lower level facilities and the community | |
| SO 1.5 Improve critical care services at all hospital levels | |
| Infrastructure | SO 2.1 Equip health facilities to provide SOA services appropriate for their level |
| SO 2.2 Upgrade ancillary services at each health facility level to support safe SOA care | |
| SO 2.3 Strengthen utilities (oxygen, water, electricity at all health facilities providing SOA services) | |
| SO 2.4 Ensure robust supply chain of necessary consumables for safe SOA care | |
| SO 2.5 Ensure donations of all medicines and medical supplies are implemented sustainably | |
| SO 2.6 Increase accessibility and utilisation of safe blood and blood products in all facilities providing SOA services | |
| SO 2.7 Establish capacity for equipment maintenance and repair | |
| Workforce | SO 3.1 Increase the SOA provider density |
| SO 3.2 Increase employment opportunities for graduating SOA specialists | |
| SO 3.3 Ensure equitable distribution of SOA workforce throughout the country | |
| SO 3.4 Upskill current SOA providers through CME | |
| SO 3.5 Define the role of allied health professionals and task-sharers in SOA service delivery | |
| SO 3.6 Establish and implement national CPD/CME guidelines | |
| SO 3.7 Strengthen management and leadership capacity around SOA care | |
| Information management | SO 4.1 Ensure collection and reporting of SOA indicators |
| SO 4.2 Ensure systematic transparent reporting and utilisation of SAO indicators | |
| SO 4.3 Implement electronic medical records for capturing SOA data | |
| SO 4.4 Build research capacity around SOA systems | |
| SO 4.5 Enhance telemedicine services at health facilities | |
| Finance | SO 5.1 Ensure adequate funding to support SOA activities |
| SO 5.2 Decrease catastrophic and impoverishing expenditure resulting from surgery | |
| Governance | SO 6.1 Disseminate NSOAP and sensitise stakeholders to content |
| SO 6.2 Establish accountability around implementation of the NSOAP | |
| SO 6.3 Strengthen the capacity of professional societies in NSOAP implementation | |
| SO 6.4 Ensure coordination of NSOAP implementation | |
| SO 6.5 Ensure NSOAP costing is kept up to date |
*Each SO has associated outputs, activities, indicators and targets. These are detailed in the main NSOAP document.
CME, continuing medical education; CPD, continuing professional development; NSOAP, National Surgical, Obstetric and Anesthesia Plan; SO, strategic objective; SOA, surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia.