Private Healthcare in Developing Countries
Private Sector Health Services
In developing countries and areas of limited healthcare access, private providers act on the front line and are often the only form of healthcare available. Although the private sector plays an increasingly important role in healthcare in developing countries, it remains a new area of study and innovation. As governments of developing countries fall short of providing widespread access to care, and traditional charity-focused NGOs offer limited or temporary solutions, the private sector presents an opportunity for sustainable scale-up of healthcare services alongside social and economic development. Included in the scope of private sector agencies are both for-profit private providers, and NGOs that apply market-based approaches to service delivery.
Our Goal
The aim of this website is to present a brief and up-to-date review of the pertinent issues in private sector healthcare delivery. This work is not biased by outside funding sources or agendas, and the content is intended not only to serve as a resource, but also as a springboard for sharing information. Welcome.
This Site
Private sector topics are organized into two major categories: Service Delivery and Disease. Within this framework this site presents topics related to the delivery of private sector health services and goods in general, and disease-specific private sector services, respectively. For each topic, we provide a summary review of the issues at hand, current programs and approaches, and links to additional resources. The Resources page presents links organized according to topic area.
This site is still in testing mode. We welcome your feedback.
Dear readers: as a new service we will be consolidating the most important article summaries, news stories, and event announcements into a two-page newsletter which will be distributed electronically every two months. If you would like to receive this bi-monthly update please fill in your email address here. Current or prior newsletters can be downloaded as pdf documents from here.
Publications
A study of how NGO facilitation of a program for maternal and neonatal health improved coverage and health care utilization for the lowest socio-economic groups.
Strengthening Health Systems in Poor Countries: A Code of Conduct for Nongovernmental Organizations
A code of conduct for nongovernmental organizations is needed to support the existing public health system framework within aid recipient countries.
A survey of common essential drugs in low and middle-income countries shows increased private sector affordability and availability.
Pragmatism about the Private Sector: A debate in PLoS
An exchange in the pages of PLoS Medicine underscores a promising trend in global health: a shift toward more pragmatism and less name-calling on the role of the private sector in developing country health systems. (Blog review by April Harding, Center for Global Development)
A study of how health services contracting can affect access and quality in a post-conflict state.
Medicines Coverage and Community-Based Health Insurance in Low-Income Countries.
A survey of community-based health insurance plans in developing countries, reviewing their effectiveness in expanding access and use of medicine.
A review of the effectiveness of governmental contracting of primary health care services to non-governmental entities in the developing world.
A survey of women’s health-seeking behaviors in Pakistan compares the use of health care services in public, private non-profit, and traditional settings.
Choice of healthcare provider following reform in Vietnam
Analysis of how changes in government regulation in Vietnam have altered health-seeking behavior, focusing on provider type and level of access.
News
FDA Panel Confirms Effectiveness of Malaria Drug
12/1/08 - In a major step toward full approval, an advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration issued a report confirming positive results for the drug Coartem in treating malaria. Coartem, an artemisinin-based combination therapy, has been used extensively in places where malaria has developed resistance to traditional anti-malarial drugs. The drug’s maker Novartis has provided it to public health systems in developing countries at no cost in conjunction with the WHO and Global Fund, including over 62 million treatment courses in 2006. Novartis may receive a priority review voucher from the FDA for future drug development as part of Congress’ new system to incentivize drug maker research on tropical diseases.
Gates Foundation to Support Development of an X-Prize for Effective TB Diagnosis
The Gates Foundation has provided a planning grant to the X-Prize Foundation to develop a competitive research prize (similar to its previous prize for a manned spaceflight) for an effective and accurate diagnosis tool for tuberculosis. The foundations hope that the financial incentive will spur biotechnology entrepreneurs to develop a rapid, low-cost, and sensitive diagnostic test to help reduce the burden of disease in developing countries.
UN and DSM Nutritional Products Win Award for Micronutrient Power
ICIS, a leading chemical and petroleum industry magazine, awarded the UN World Food Program and Netherlands-based DSM Nutritional Products a prize for their joint initiative in producing a cost-efficient micronutrient packet for distribution in the developing world. The MixMe tasteless powder packet, which is now being distributed in Nepal, Kenya, and Bangladesh, contains vitamins and trace minerals which, when added to normally micronutrient deficient foods like corn and rice, helps avert numerous childhood and adult morbidities. The non-profit arm of DSM, Sight and Life, provides the WFP with expertise, high nutrient products, and financial assistance in the initiative, currently in its second year.