Practical Tips

Support the generation of high-quality reliable data to help the government understand the scope and scale of the private health sector. The information can help public stewards develop more appropriate policies, better plan for and react to health emergencies, and inform universal health coverage initiatives. It can also be used to increase the visibility of the private health sector and encourage future partnerships. As in Senegal, one strategy is to conduct a private sector assessment and a private sector census, especially in contexts where private sector data are absent. Another strategy is to integrate private sector reporting into routine national health information systems. An important step in this integration is reviewing and reducing the reporting burden on private providers that serves as a disincentive to participate.

Facilitate an inclusive and participatory dialogue, especially where collaboration has been absent. The Nigeria TB partnership shows the importance of identifying and supporting champions in both sectors who are willing to reach across the aisle and lead the process. It is important to invest time and resources to support platforms that bring all actors together, and use strong facilitation skills to identify challenges and solutions together. The exact mechanism for how they engage can vary, but it should be mutually beneficial for both parties and be frequent enough to build trusted relationships among actors.

Equip the public sector with the necessary skills and understanding of why and how to engage with the private health sector. In many countries, public stewards and regulators are insufficiently prepared to lead meaningful engagement with the private sector and move beyond past attitudes of mistrust. Targeted trainings, on-the-job coaching, and user-friendly tools, such as the ones used in Senegal to evaluate and compare potential partnership options, can help build and strengthen the public sector’s capacity to work with the private health sector.

Consider phased approaches to achieve quick results and generate momentum. Many examples showcased in this brief started with a short-term or small-scale effort that later developed into more sustained, widespread engagement. By starting small, public-private engagement efforts can achieve results quickly. Successes show the value of public-private engagement to both sides and can galvanize enthusiasm and support for continued, broader engagement and partnerships.

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