Study on Healthcare Facilities at Two Border Crossing Points - Torkham and Chaman

Project Description

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) commissioned APEX Consulting Pakistan to implement a study on healthcare facilities at two border crossing points with Afghanistan - Torkham, and Chaman. The main objective of the study was to access the healthcare facilities provided to Afghans nationals and Pakistani citizens visiting these facilities, located on the border crossing points, and identifying any gaps. The specific objective of the study was to identify existing healthcare centers for migrants at two border crossing points, assess the status of existing healthcare facilities, specifically staffing, equipment, resources available as well as accessibility (physical and financial), and to identify prevailing healthcare issues among migrants crossing the border. Of the existing healthcare facilities, size facilities were selected for the assessment, three at each location Torkham and Chaman borders.

Services provided by APEX

The methodology of the survey comprised of a desk review and implementation of a cross-sectional health facility assessment survey, using the situation analysis method. After structuring the assignment, APEX team held a scoping meeting with IOM team in which the team leader and subject experts worked with the IOM team in which the team leader and subject experts worked with the IOM team for reviewing the plans. APEX team reviewed the background documents to understand the assignment objectives and level of effort to be envisaged. After reviewing the documents, APEX team finalized the scope of the assignment and submitted the inception report to IOM, which included methodology, tools, and plan of assessment.

Two quantitative tools were developed and used for the health facility assessment, a physical inventory of health facility, and the exit interview with clients. The tools were based on structured and close-ended questions including a demographic profile of the client who received health consultation at the facility, client satisfaction, information about healthcare facilities, facility type, service utilization, availability of supplies services, diagnostic facilities, medicines, and essential commodities, etc.

The field research teams from KP and Baluchistan were trained by the team lead and APEX staff at Islamabad. The training was consisted of interviewing techniques and training on the tools. After the training, both teams prepared for the data collection according to the field plans. Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, the government closed the Chaman border, and later on, a lockdown ensued in Baluchistan. For this reason, the research team could not get permission from the provisional government authorities to travel and access the Chaman border facilities for conducting the health facility assessment.

However, the KP team conducted and completed the data collection at the health facilities in four days. Female interviewers conducted exit interviews with female clients and male interviewer/supervisor conducted interviews with male clients. Verbal consent was obtained from every respondent prior to asking questions and it was made sure that the survey is conducted solely on the willingness of the respondents. The field staff clarified the apprehensions of the respondents before conducting the survey.