Innovative public-private approaches to improved quality and expanded service provision Lessons from Africa, South Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East

The presentation discusses EMG's implementation of innovative public-private partnership (PPP) models in international health; the challenges involved in securing private sector commitment; the success factors contributing to the sustainability of PPPs; and the value-added of public sector know-how, business practices and resources. The data and achievements presented come from recently completed and on-going projects in Uganda, Bangladesh, Paraguay, and the West Bank and Gaza. The data collection tools used to obtain project data include capacity and sustainability assessments, quality improvement tools, patient satisfaction surveys, quality assessment and control checklists and management and supervision tools used according to pre-defined methodologies and frequencies to obtain valid trend analysis information. Further, outcome-level analysis has been used to identify sustainable approaches as well as the value-added of private sector involvement in controlling the quality of service provision; expanding access to services for under-served populations, including the poorest of the poor; leveraging additional resources for service provision; and creating safety nets through the introduction of employer-funded insurance and health care. PPP models are increasing employed as alternative or supplementary mechanisms for service provision in the developing world. As the private sector recognizes the economic cost of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and chronic diseases, employers have become interested in innovative approaches to lowering their labor cost while making a contribution to the local communities. The challenge is for the donor community and implementing partners to propose PPP models that will successfully engage the private sector and forge a mutually beneficial PPP.