Most health systems are mixed health systems, that include both public and private providers and are governed by a mix of government programs and free markets. Over the past two decades, public-private engagement or PPE has gained acceptance as an important element in achieving UHC and population health outcomes. Where there is less clarity and agreement is around how to achieve effective PPE and leverage it to strengthen health systems. To bridge this gap, the Journey Guide for Effective Public-Private Engagement in Health gathers implementation insights from the SMHS project that can support health system actors on their journey to achieve effective PPE in health.
Recognizing that PPEs exist as part of a complex network of helping or hindering factors and multiple health system actors operating at various points in an engagement cycle, the SMHS project first developed the PPE Ecosystem Framework to take a holistic, system-focused view of PPE and better describe the factors and interactions in this complex ecosystem. This framework is described in detail in the Public-Private Engagement Ecosystem Brief and will be referenced throughout this guide.
Taking into consideration the PPE Ecosystem factors along with the resources in this guide can help stakeholders make progress towards their PPE goals. Illustrative examples of these goals include:
- Understanding a health system gap and considering ways a PPE could help address it
- Engaging the other sector on a new PPE or improving an existing PPE or PPE forum
- Integrating a PPE in the broader health system
- Assessing the performance of a PPE
- Learning more about design and implementation of PPEs
The Journey Guide includes two sections
The Public-Private Engagement Facilitation Approach
Section 1 of the guide describes the SMHS project’s process facilitation approach, and underlying principles and vision, to support better engagement between public and private health sector actors. It also describes the specific adaptation of the approach for sub-national PPEs in Kenya and India (described in detail in Appendices 1 and 2) as well as the tools that were developed to support implementation.
The Public-Private Engagement Resource Compendium.
Section 2 of the guide gathers new SMHS-developed PPE tools along with existing publicly available tools and resources on PPE, including tools for facilitating or brokering a PPE. The Compendium also maps each tool to the PPE Ecosystem (described in detail in the PPE Ecosystem Brief).
The Journey Guide concludes with several key tips and takeaways drawn from lessons learned from the implementation of the SMHS project.
