Public-Private Partnerships: A Strategy for Effective Private Partnership in Health Care Provision: A Policy Option

Abstract

Context: One of the most effective ways to cope with the financial constraints of the health system, especially in developing countries, is to engage the private sector in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP). Hence, the purpose of the present study was to introduce PPP as a general policy to increase the effective participation of the private sector in the health system. Methods: Initially, the existing literature was reviewed to identify methods, areas, and experiences in PPP. Then, an expert panel was organized with researchers, professors, and experts in health services management and policy-making. At the beginning of the panel, the content obtained in the previous step was presented, and then the requirements of PPP implementation in healthcare were discussed. Results: Considering the discussions, we summarized the factors affecting PPP implementation in three topics: (A) Private sector conditions: A sufficient number of eligible companies, significant financial gain for private companies; (B) Public sector conditions: Principles, policies, and indicators related to outsourcing of services, availability of transferable services, units or substations to the private sector, lower cost of providing services in the private sector than the public sector; (C) Background: Political, legal, economic, and cultural conditions, successful experiences in other cities and provinces, support of the health system scientific body, common language, and contract conditions. Conclusions: Given the private sector’s capabilities and potentials to improve the quality and quantity of services provided, transparent PPP policies should be developed as an appropriate strategy for effective private sector participation in the provision of health care, and the required infrastructure must be provided.