SMC’s Blue Star Programme began in June 1998 as a pilot with the purpose to address the unmet need of the target population by improving quality, awareness, accessibility and affordability of priority public health services through the private health providers. The programme initially started with Graduate Doctors (GDs). Since 2000, it was expanded to include Non-Graduate Medical Practitioners (NGMPs) as well. Initially the Blue Star Providers (BSPs) provided SOMA-JECT, SMC’s over branded Injectable contraceptive.

According to the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2007, 7% of the eligible couples are using Injectable contraceptive compared to 2.6% in 1991. Gradually, other public health services have been included in the programme through these BSPs. SMC provides comprehensive training, commodity supply, promotional support, supervision & monitoring of these BSPs. SMC’s Social Franchising “Blue Star” Programme is an all-out effort to bring the private sector health providers (both graduate and non-graduate medical practitioners) into the National Family Planning Programme.

The BSPs are recruited based on set criteria. After recruitment, the providers are given two days’ basic training on “Family Planning Counseling and Injectable Contraceptive” jointly with Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) of Bangladesh.

The Blue Star Programme is implemented by the direct guidance from “Social Franchising & Quality Assurance” department of SMC Head Office as well as its 12 Area Offices. The Head Office does the total programme plan and provides TA and the Sales Promotion Officers/Executives (SPOs/SPEs) of the Area Offices implement and visits area wise Blue Star providers. To monitor the quality of services and skill of the Blue Star Providers (BSPs), SMC has started Quality Monitoring and Supervision (QMS) system since 2006. In order to effectively implement the system, six Monitoring Officers (MOs) in the Head Office visits each BSP twice a year throughout the country.

During visits the Monitoring Officers record the score of each indicator in the monitoring checklist and knowledge quiz questionnaire. Based on the scores they provide necessary guideline and on-site technical assistance to the providers when necessary. On the basis of score BSP’s are graded in six different categories and based on the results necessary steps are taken. The categories are: 1) Outstanding 2) Very good 3) Good 4) Poor 5) Very poor and 6) Unacceptable.

Currently following services are provided through Blue Star Franchising programme:

In order to ensure Quality Assurance, several initiatives are in place including: