As evidence about the importance of the private sector in healthcare delivery accumulates, emphasis is being placed on better understanding the opportunities and risks it creates. Private providers are often key sources of treatment for diseases of public health importance, such as malaria, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tuberculosis (TB). They are also an important source of care for poor people, who may use private providers nearly as much as better-off groups. But there are concerns about their quality and affordability.

What do we mean by the “private sector”? The term “private sector” covers an enormous range of provider types. They include those who operate on a for-profit basis, and non-profit organisations. They range from highly qualified specialists through to “less-than-fully qualified” practitioners and untrained shopkeepers; and from complex organisations such as inpatient facilities or provider networks, to very simple organisations such as solo-practitioners or itinerant drug pedlars. The types of care provided also vary, from a complete service involving sophisticated diagnostics and treatment through to the sale of simple public health products such as drugs, mosquito nets or condoms. Often the boundary between public and private is blurred – individual practitioners may work in public and private practice at the same time (known as 'dual practice' - see Steve Jan); public hospitals may create “private wards” within their institutions; and commodities such as drugs and vaccines may leak from public sector fac

Source(s):
'What can be done about the private health sector in low income countries?', Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 80(4): 325-330, by A. Mills, R. Brugha, K. Hanson, and B. McPake, 2002
'Who profits? Private healthcare - opportunity or risk?' Insights Health #3
See id21's links page on Private Healthcare Full document.

id21 Research Highlight: 26 March 2003

Further Information:
Kara Hanson
Health Economics and Financing Programme
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Keppel Street
London
WC1E 7HT
UK

Contact the contributor: kara.hanson@lshtm.ac.uk

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

Other related links:
'Working with private health providers to improve quality'

'Public sector doctors with second jobs'

'Two wrongs can make a right - public-private partnerships in tuberculosis control'

'Where there is no regulator'

'Private sector drug retailers and malaria control in Kenya'

'Competitive voucher schemes: can they improve healthcare for the poor'

'Does duty call? Contracts and GPs in South Africa'