Table 1.

Purchasing Functions Needed to Support the SHP System

Governance arrangements & information architecture	- Legal, regulatory and governance structures (including stakeholder groups and accountability_
	- Mandate and autonomy of the purchasers, and purchasing power of the purchasing agency
	- Provider autonomy and Public financial management rules
	- Information system architecture
	- HMIS capacity
The health care goods and services to purchase	- Benefits package
	- Service delivery standards, including gate-keeping and referral guidelines, and clinical guidelines
	- Medicines and prescribing guidelines
The providers from whom goods and services are purchased	- Rules for selective contracting
	- Private sector engagement
How to purchase: contracting and provider payment	- Contracting
	- Provider payment
	- Provider monitoring