DESK REVIEWS | 04.03.15. If there is a policy already, who were the stakeholders involved in developing the policy? What is their role in enacting their policy? How is this monitored?

DESK REVIEW | 04.03.15. If there is a policy already, who were the stakeholders involved in developing the policy? What is their role in enacting their policy? How is this monitored?

The National Dementia Policy was created by a group that comprised a doctor, politicians, and others. The law created in the municipality of São Paulo was developed by a group composed of healthcare professionals, communication professionals, politicians etc. These professionals generally give expert inputs, the politicians write the law and are responsible for legislative procedures. The creation or development of some policies may be discussed in commissions composed of parliamentarians and civil society representatives.

Currently, there is no dementia-specific policy or plan in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, the Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) and the Elderly Services Programme Plan (ESPP) provide holistic reviews and recommendations on existing services including dementia care. They identify several stakeholders with different roles to cooperate together in addressing the complex needs of dementia care from prevention and diagnosis to timely intervention and long-term care. These stakeholders involve the Food and Health Bureau (FHB), Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), Hospital Authority (HA), Department of Health (DH), Social Welfare Department (SWD), and other relevant parties, such as NGOs, private doctors, formal and informal carers. The ESPP proposes recommendations about the Government which should have a regular track on the goals and objectives in planning, implementing, and evaluating elderly services with adequate participation among stakeholders at district level and territory-wide levels (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 44). However, there is no clear descriptions about the specific roles of different stakeholders and how they monitor the progresses to achieve tangible outcomes.

References:

Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, Elderly Commission of Government of Hong Kong SAR,. (2017). Elderly Services Programme Plan. Hong Kong: Elderly Commission of Government HKSAR Retrieved from https://www.elderlycommission.gov.hk/en/download/library/ESPP_Final_Report_Eng.pdf.

Multi-disciplinary stakeholders were involved in developing the policy, which included clinicians, academics, carer, NGO, and other stakeholders. NGOs with international outlook have a focus on aligning the national policy with international goals (for example, early diagnosis is also a priority in Indonesia’s national strategic plan). A monitoring report on the policy has not yet been published but the document suggests that monitoring and evaluation should be conducted by all stakeholders including central and local governments, Komisi Lanjut Usia, the involved universities, professional organizations, and NGOs (Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, 2015b). There are tangible outcome indicators for each of the action steps in the policy (Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, 2015a, pp.25-35).

References:

Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2015a). Ministry of Health Regulation No. 67/2015 on Geriatric Services in Public Health Center (Permenkes No. 67/2015 Tentang Penyelenggaraan Pelayanan Kesehatan Lanjut Usia Di Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat). Kementrian Kesehatan Indonesia, 1–140.

Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2015b). National Strategy: Management of Alzheimer and Other Dementia Diseases: Towards Healthy and Productive Older Persons. Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia.

No data was sourced due to a lack of dementia policy in Jamaica.

The actions in the plan are being led by national health institutes as well as by civil associations.

NZ Dementia framework:

The dementia framework was developed by representatives from each DHB, the national dementia cooperative, and primary health care services, as well as people with dementia and their carers. The acknowledgements included representatives from many organisations including representatives from Dementia Associations, the aged care sector, Universities, DHBs, Primary care and Allied health.

Dementia Action plan:

Development of the dementia plan was facilitated by Alzheimer’s NZ and the NZ Dementia cooperative. Contributors included members of both organisations, as well as representatives from Dementia NZ, dementia researchers from the University of Auckland, the District Health Boards, and a representative from a national retirement village group. Amongst this group were old age psychiatrists, geriatricians, and people with dementia and their carers. The group then worked with their communities and alongside the Ministry of Health to create the document.

Not applicable as there is no dementia-specific policy or plan for South Africa.