Each country framework can be viewed, or downloaded as a word document. It is also possible to view the contents of the database by issue – i.e., to look at responses to the same issue in different countries. To review a single country’s framework, simply click on the map or select from the list of countries in the box below. To review the same or multiple document section over a number of countries the application allows you to combine document sections freely. To learn more about this feature use help on The WHO database on health in PRSPs (multiple country display). The subject areas of the framework are.

Structure and finance: This section summarises the overall objectives of the PRSP, and draws out information recorded in the PRSP document on the health budget. The aim is to see how, if at all, the overall PRSP prioritises health and to see if this prioritisation is reflected in budget increases. We have found that PRSPs typically contain very limited budget information.

Poverty Context: This section looks at the way in which the PRSP defines poverty, and at what criteria it uses to identify the poorest groups and regions. It also includes information on how progress towards PRSP goals and targets will be monitored; a key question here is whether the PRPS distinguishes between poor and non-poor groups and how.

Poverty and Health Context: This looks at the conceptual links made between poverty and poor health, and between good health and economic growth. Specifically, it asks whether the main health needs of the poor have been identified, and if any disaggregated health statistics have been provided. As with the poverty context section, the aim is to see how far the PRSP is focused on the needs of the poor(est). This is important as studies suggest that the non-poor tend to capture the lion’s share of benefits of many health interventions.

Health components of the PRSP – information: This section summarises all information and data on health in the PRSP. It does not provide comment on the adequacy or accuracy of that information. The aim is to determine what analysis underpins the health strategies put forward.

Health components of the PRSP – objectives, strategies and indicators: This is the main section of the framework. It summarises the health strategies put forward by the PRSP and asks: are these strategies targeted at the poor? Are indicators identified to measure progress on these stategies? Are indicators linked to the MDGs, and do they reflect pro-poor targeting? The purpose is to examine, in a very systematic way, the implicit and explicit poverty focus in health components of PRSPs.

Beyond the Health Sector – health strategies in other sectors: This section asks the same set of questions as the section above, though it focuses on other sectors where a link to health has been made. Most commonly, this is water and sanitation and environment. If the PRSP itself does not make a link between say, education and health, then education will not be examined in this section.

Analysis – While previous sections summarise or record "raw information" from the PRSP, this section provides WHO’s analysis. It comments on the quality and depth of information presented on health, coherence between this information and the strategies proposed, the level of poverty focus, and the extent to which cross-sectoral activities for health are reflected.

Summary Table – This table takes a set of recognized "pro-poor" health policies and asks whether they are reflected in the PRSP. These include reproductive and child health, improved water and sanitation, addressing financial barriers to health care, and others. Simple yes/no responses are given on whether these strategies are present in the PRSP, targeted at the poorest, linked to monitorable indicators, and in turn whether these indicators are linked to the MDGs and reflect pro-poor targeting. It is important to point out here that "pro-poor" targeting is interpreted rather broadly, e.g, measuring progress in rural vs. urban populations would be accepted as an example.

Progress Reports – Where they exist annual Progress Reports are also examined.

This database is also searchable, for example it is possible to draw out information on a particular disease, such as Malaria, or on a topic, such as human resources, throughout the whole database. More information on the search features of this application can be found here