Setting the stage for win-win public-private sector partnerships in healthcare: Lessons from the field

Faced with dwindling public health dollars, partnerships between public health agencies and private sector organizations have become a means to an end for expanding the delivery of services and supporting public health infrastructure needs. However, such partnerships have advantages and disadvantages for both the public health agency and the private sector partner. Additionally, there are several factors that can lead to less than successful partnerships, particularly when one party to the partnership essentially “holds the purse strings”. Despite the often divergent nature of the financial resources of each partner, both can generally find common ground for why the partnership has value for the community. But even so, the overarching goal of improving the delivery of health related services, by expanding programs or erecting better buildings, can present challenges that will test the strength of the relationship. Identifying up front, real and perceived challenges, and understanding the advantages and disadvantages associated with the partnership for both organizations, can set the stage for good faith negotiations and a positive outcome. In almost all instances, mutual benefit is a driving force in creating a collaboration, whether it is long term or short lived. Developing partnerships based on a set of win-win principles that both organizations adopt, is the best way to ensure mutual benefit, a successful partnership, and an end-product that serves the intended population, whether it is the community at-large, or individuals seeking the services of a specific public health program.