FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 7, 1997 Health Alliance/USAID Seek US Health Care Institutions and Systems for Partnership Projects in the Russian Federation WASHINGTON, DC -- The American International Health Alliance, Inc. (AIHA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announce the planned expansion of their health care partnership program with up to three new short-term partnerships in the Russian Federation. AIHA is soliciting expressions of interest from qualified US health care institutions and systems willing to devote substantial in-kind resources, mainly in the form of human resources committed on a voluntary basis, to a one-year partnership project with counterparts in the Russian Federation. US institutions and systems to be considered will be those which have already-existing programs with Russian counterpart institutions and which have demonstrated a clear commitment and capacity to develop a health care improvement project at the institutional or system level for which supplementary funding is critical to achieve effective completion. In addition, the US partners should be prepared at the end of one year to document and disseminate significant outcomes from the implementation of the partnership project. The new health care partnerships will be part of an ongoing health care development program financed through USAID and managed by AIHA which includes forty partnerships in eleven republics of the New Independent States (NIS) and in nine countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). AIHA partnerships have enabled American health care providers to work with their colleagues abroad to address significant mortality and morbidity issues, improve health care organizations and introduce market-oriented solutions to health system delivery problems. The partnership program emphasizes professional exchanges involving physicians, nurses, administrators and technicians. AIHA partnerships also collaborate with related ministries of health, local and regional health systems administrations, and schools of health sciences to ensure that critical areas of health education and administration are adequately addressed at these higher institutional levels, and that the capacity to carry out other developmental assistance efforts is enhanced. The funding cycle for these new partnership projects will be for one year, beginning approximately September 1, 1997 through August 31, 1998. Funding will be established and monitored against a clearly defined workplan directed toward a significant improvement in health care services management or organization. Proposed projects should facilitate a health care delivery system which emphasizes cost-effective and efficient integration of ambulatory and inpatient care within the broad context of public health. The workplan must reflect strong collaboration and mutually agreed upon objectives and strategies between the US and Russian partners. AIHA/USAID funding supplements the voluntary and in-kind contributions of the partners and their respective communities in the US and abroad. Existing AIHA partnerships have leveraged nearly three dollars for every US government dollar expended. AIHA/USAID funds mainly support travel and other costs essential in establishing and realizing the full potential of each partnership's specific project. Awards under this program are not expected to exceed $50,000 each. AIHA staff in Washington, DC and in the Russian Federation will provide logistical support and assist in monitoring the progress of the partnerships. Interested US partners must have the willingness and capacity to meet the specific health care delivery needs described above, and must satisfy the following criteria: -- Be institution-based -- e.g., a hospital or group of hospitals, schools of health professions, a managed cared organization or other consortia of health care providers. If a group of institutions is involved, a lead institution must be designated; -- Be supported by the institution's senior leadership and Board and clearly identify an overall partnership coordinator; -- Make substantial voluntary commitment to the partnership through a significant contribution of resources, including human resources; -- Actively involve the local community served by the US partners, including any significant emigre community that may be present; -- Share information openly and participate fully in AIHA's efforts to exchange information with other US/NIS and US/CEE partnerships through the AIHA Partnership Clearinghouse and dissemination conferences and seminars; -- Adhere to AIHA's rigorous objective-setting and results-oriented approach, including: (a) Enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and work within the overall coordination and guidance of AIHA and its designated program coordinator; (b) Develop demonstration-type interventions with significant training components and capacity for replication; (c) Establish mechanisms (such as training programs and conferences) for the diffusion of partnership successes; and (d) Participate in regular program evaluations to assess partnership progress and achievements. Health care institutions and systems wishing to be considered for participation in the new one-year Russian partnership projects should submit proposals (15 pages maximum) by August 1, 1997 describing their proposed project, projected outcomes, relevance as a model and potential for replication, and detailing their interest and ability to carry out the proposed project under the AIHA model. The statement should describe the institution=s or system=s prior and current commitments to their Russian counterparts, its commitment to the partnership program, the human and material resources it will devote to the proposed project, and specific strengths of both the institution and its Russian partner. Working with USAID, AIHA will select the institution or groups of institutions which best fulfill the criteria listed above and offer the greatest potential for a successful project. Statements should be directed to: Mr. Donald W. Harbick Director for NIS Programs American International Health Alliance, Inc. 1212 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 750 Washington, DC 20005 For additional information, please contact Mr. Harbick. Telephone: (202) 789-1136, Facsimile: (202) 789-1277, E-Mail: [log in to unmask] # # #