Since Renovation (Doi Moi) in 1988, Vietnam’s private health sector has grown rapidly and over 70% of health care expenditures are through the private sector. Declining State expenditures for health care stimulated private sector growth while rising incomes led to greater client demand. This sector now offers a range of reproductive health services including family planning, maternal/child health care, abortion, infertility treatment, and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs). A Situation Analysis, combined with community surveys, used structured observations and interviews to assess quality of care, and investigate access to private services in five provinces. The provinces included rural and urban, northern, southern and central sites. Data were collected on the full range of reproductive health services at 285 service delivery points (including 81 public for comparison) and resulted in 296 provider interviews, 676 client exit interviews, and 673 observations of provider-client service interactions. The study compares costs in the two sectors for the same services, assesses client demand and preferences, and outlines both the strengths and weaknesses of the private reproductive health system. Significant differences in availability, cost, and quality of services across the five provinces are revealed. Based on these findings, the study demonstrates that the rapid privatization of Vietnam's health care system has created greater disparities in access and quality of care.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this paper, the participant (learner) will be able to: (1) Identify the major strengths and weaknesses of private reproductive health care in Vietnam; (2) Evaluate private versus public reproductive health service delivery in terms of quality, cost, access, and client preferences; and (3) Assess the effects of privatization on disparities in access and quality of care received
Keywords: Privatization, Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: MCH/FP Centers of the Ministry of Health, NCPFP, Vietnam
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.