A Lifesaving Initiative for Patients with Kidney Failure: A Well-structured and Efficiently Implemented, Pioneering, Public–Private Health Partnership in India

Abstract

The dialysis machine acts as an artificial kidney, a lifesaver for patients whose both kidneys have failed. But the dialysis process is physically painful and economically stressful, especially for poor patients. Even for the government the cost of providing dialysis services to poor patients is exorbitant. This is a case of the setting of the dialysis centres by the Andhra Pradesh Government in partnership with the private service provider on a public-private partnerships basis. There was a dilemma whether to do this project wholly through government budgets or forming a partnership with a private party to implement the project. The project emerged as a successful and imitable example of a public–private partnership for the rest of the country and other developing countries. Apart from being a financially sound and bankable project, efficient project management, efficient contract and risk management, vigilant monitoring by the government, sound payment mechanism and mutually beneficial partnership are the driving factors for the success of this pioneering healthcare PPP project in India.