One problem of MFLs that needs to be emphasized (and I believe was touched upon in the opening presentation) is the need for clear ownership and management of the MFL. In one country I recently visited there was at least four versions of the MLF circulating, and all different. Which one to use for selecting health facilities for an assessment? These, of course, were not “Master” facility lists, but rather just “facility lists”. The ownership is what makes the list “Master”, that is, one authority to update and maintain the official country facility list. And standard mechanisms for updating them (e.g. an NGO does a facility survey and finds status changes in existing facilities, or new facilities have come online, or old ones have disappeared) and submits the new information to the MOH. Then the MOH validates the information by reaching out to the facilities or the DHMT in the respective districts. Only when the information is validated is the MFL updated. The updates should happen on a regular, predictable schedule.
Dave
