Session: The Role of Private Provider Networks in Expanding Access to Reproductive Health/Family Planning Services

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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

5057.0: Wednesday, November 08, 2006: 8:30 AM-10:00 AM

Oral

The Role of Private Provider Networks in Expanding Access to Reproductive Health/Family Planning Services

In response to the growing gap between health care needs and available government and donor resources in developing countries, the private health sector is poised to play an increasing role in the delivery of priority health services. Private provider networks offer one approach to engaging the private sector and rapidly expanding access to healthcare. While the promise of private health networks has attracted increasing attention in recent years, there has been limited consideration of the factors that contribute to the long-term sustainability of these networks. The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of private health networks, identify different types of networks, and explore various elements that can enhance network sustainability. Three types of networks are discussed: not-for-profit networks, social franchises and commercial networks. PROSALUD is a not-for-profit network of 34 health clinics in Bolivia that has provided high quality, affordable healthcare for more than two decades. The model incorporates elements of franchising and exemplifies public/private partnership. Biruh Tesfa is a franchise of private providers offering reproductive health and family planning services to low and middle-income clients in Ethiopia. The franchise is currently considering ways to ensure its long-term sustainability, including transferring oversight to a local professional association. Total Health Trust is a commercial HMO network in Nigeria that recently tripled the size of its network through contracting with National Health Insurance, but now needs to manage the scale-up. Lessons from each type of network may help improve the operating practices of other networks, with the ultimate goal of increasing access to sustainable health services.

Learning Objectives: Identify three types of private health networks that can help developing countries achieve public health objectives. Articulate factors that contribute to the sustainability of a private health network. Recognize the trade-offs between providing reproductive health services, serving the poor, and operating a profitable health network.

Organizer(s):

Sara Sulzbach, MPH

Moderator(s):

Jeffrey Barnes, MBA

8:30 AM

Towards sustainable supply of reproductive health services: The role of private provider networks