Applying strategical planning in the development of Occupational Therapy in Mongolia – lessons learnt and future implications

Background: In 2005 an official request by health professionals and the disability community in Mongolia to establish OT in the country reached WFOT. So far only few health professionals had been trained on the job by foreign... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
In 2005 an official request by health professionals and the disability community in Mongolia to establish OT in the country reached WFOT. So far only few health professionals had been trained on the job by foreign OTs, adapting different styles and understanding of the profession.
Guidelines used:
The WFOT Ressource-Package “Developing the OT Profession in Non- Member Countries” (WFOT 2008) was used as a guideline to aid the project team. Strategical planning led to assessing the need of OT in Mongolia, involving stakeholders, finding partners and developing a common course of action.
Current achievements:
In 2014 many milestones were achieved. A first cohort of BSc in OT started with a four-year course. A first MSc in OT candidate enrolled with the aim of becoming the first fully accredited OT in the country and future program leader. The Mongolian Therapy Association was founded and started to promote the new profession on World OT Day nationwide including broad national coverage with a film about OT.
Evaluation:
Continuity and ownership by the main local stakeholders as well as funding emerged to be the key challenges in the cooperation.
Lessons learnt and future implications:
Strategical planning as well as a high level of flexibility was important in achieving these goals and remain relevant factors in the future. Additionally a strong local team needed to be on the ground reconnecting and informing new stakeholders. More challenges are still expected and will need creative and out of the box thinking in order to be solved.