WASHINGTON, D.C. — Results for Development (R4D) has published a new resource, Journey Guide for Effective Public-Private Engagement in Health, focused on sharing actionable insights for integrating quality private maternity care into government-stewarded health systems.
Most countries have mixed health systems that include both public and private providers and are governed by a mix of government programs and free markets. As a result, over the past two decades, public-private engagement has gained acceptance as an important element in achieving universal health coverage. But there is less clarity and agreement around how to achieve effective public-private engagement and how to leverage it to strengthen health systems.
To fill this gap, R4D developed the Journey Guide with funding from the Merck for Mothers Initiative as part of the as part Strengthening Mixed Health Systems project. Through this project, R4D conducted several research and learning activities and directly supported public-private engagements in India and Kenya. Together with Insight Health Advisors (IHA) in Kenya and ACCESS Health International (AHI) in India, R4D co-developed, co-implemented and documented practical and actionable processes for strengthening mixed health systems.
“Mixed health systems perform better with appropriate regulation of quality and government purchasing of services from private providers. For these approaches to succeed, public and private stakeholders must first build trust, mutual understanding and willingness to engage,” said Gina Lagomarsino, president and CEO of R4D. “The Journey Guide offers practical guidance for how to facilitate effective public-private engagements that are the foundation for improving the performance of mixed health systems.”
The Journey Guide was developed for public and private sector actors and third-party organizations who serve as facilitators between public and private sector actors. The guide can also be used by funders, donors, and others working in the space of mixed health systems or public-private engagement.
The guide summarizes the Strengthening Mixed Health Systems project’s process facilitation approach to support better engagement between public and private health sector actors. It also includes a compendium of 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.
In addition, the Journey Guide provides a synthesis of resources developed by R4D and its partners to support public-private engagement, including:
- Brief on the Public-Private Engagement (PPE) Ecosystem: This brief includes a framework that recognizes 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. These factors include: environmental, structural, and engagement factors.
- Case study on Kenya: This case study is based on process evaluations and qualitative analysis to answer learning questions in Kakamega County, Kenya.
- India Case Study (available upon request): This case study is based on process evaluations and qualitative analysis to answer learning questions in Maharashtra, India.
- Secondary Case Review of Public-Private Engagements in Health Crosscutting Analysis: A crosscutting analysis of six secondary cases aimed at studying and better understanding what factors are associated with successful and unsuccessful PPEs.
- Learning Report: Brings together lessons and learnings that cut across the primary cases, secondary cases, evidence review, and experiences from the project.
- Rapid Health Systems Integration Assessment Tool: A resource to assess the environmental factors surrounding public-private engagements.
- Engagement Factors Self-Assessment Tool: A resource for stakeholders to self-assess the strength of their engagement across a range of factors.
- Public-Private Sector Engagement Co-Creation Workshop: Facilitator’s Guide: This guide can be used and adapted by trusted brokers or public or private sector actors alike to help organize and facilitate a collaborative workshop process among public and private sector actors.
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About Merck for Mothers
These programs are supported by funding from Merck, through Merck for Mothers, the company’s $500 million initiative to help create a world where no woman dies giving life. Merck for Mothers is known as MSD for Mothers outside the US and Canada. www.merckformothers.com
About Results for Development
Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — supporting them as they navigate complex change processes to achieve large-scale, equitable outcomes in health, education and nutrition. We work with country leaders to diagnose challenges, co-create, innovate and implement solutions built on evidence and diverse stakeholder input, and engage in learning to adapt, iterate and improve. We also strengthen global, regional and country ecosystems to support country leaders with expertise, evidence, and innovations. R4D helps country leaders solve their immediate challenges today, while also strengthening systems and institutions to address tomorrow’s challenges. And we share what we learn so others around the world can achieve results for development too. www.R4D.org
Photo © Dominic Chavez/World Bank
