Reorganization of the provincial health system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: In the framework of implementation of health system reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in a context of decentralization dictated by the National Constitution, this study presents the process and results obtained in terms of the provincial level of health care organization in DRC. Methods: A two-year multidisciplinary interventional research protocol was elaborated with two phases and 9 steps including organizational analysis, team building, and organizational learning. It resulted in transformational actions and improved knowledge, allowing the development of an innovative organizational model of the intermediate level of the health care system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Results: This interventional research gave rise to function plans set up by the provincial health division (PHD) in order to develop a more participative management and to compensate for the weaknesses of the current structural organization. Experts provided support to PHD for implementation of a new structure in order to institutionalize this new participative management. The new organizational structure of the PHD is based on 4 professions: i) health district support; ii) control and inspection; iii) information, communication and research and iv) resources management. PHD and experts defined these professions and described the required skills. Results were integrated into the new national health plan. Conclusions: Apart from the concrete results obtained, two major challenges need to be addressed: i) support the transformation of PHD from the current situation to the new model and ii) extend this new model to the other provinces, according to the same participative approach, a necessary condition to adjust the organization flow-chart to the context. //ABSTRACT IN FRENCH: Introduction: Dans le cadre de la réforme du système de santé et de la décentralisation prévue par la constitution en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), cette étude présente le processus et les résultats obtenus en termes de modèle des structures intermédiaires de santé. Méthodes: Recherche-action participative multidisciplinaire en deux phases et neuf étapes - intégrant des méthodes d'analyse organisationnelle, de team building et d'apprentissage organisationnel - qui a permis de tester en temps réel des actions de transformation, et de capitaliser les savoirs ainsi générés sous la forme d'un modèle innovant d'organisation. Résultats: Cette recherche-action a mis