Table 3.

Development pearls for national surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia planning

Ministry support and ownership is required, and is the key to success

Create a timeline for the process and stick to it

Appropriate baselining leads to appropriate targets

Broad stakeholder involvement from the frontlines will create a well informed plan

Address the hard issues, despite their complexity and burdensome nature

Decide on set indicators and incorporate into health management information system

Involve implementers and financing bodies throughout the entire process to ensure implementation