Collaborative governance in a primary health care partnership in Papua New Guinea

INTRODUCTION

Collaboration in primary health care is recommended to achieve global health goals. Public-private partnerships (PPP) are one means of collaboration. Our study examined collaboration in a case study PPP for primary health care in Western Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

METHODS

Interviews with key informants involved in the PPP were conducted and key programme documents were reviewed. Data were coded and deductively analysed using the collaborative governance model developed by Emerson, Nabatchi and Balogh.

RESULTS

The key features of the case study PPP that were highlighted by the collaborative governance model were: identification of partners, trust, procedural arrangements, and leadership.

DISCUSSION

We identified four lessons of significance in the practical establishment and implementation of a partnership in a complex and challenging setting such as PNG: the need to (i) prioritise in-person collaboration and communication, (ii) engage dynamic individuals to lead the partnership, (iii) encourage relationships across all sectors and actors, and (iv) remain flexible and adapt to local cultural and context.

CONCLUSION

Collaborative governance offers a practical framework to understand, assess and strengthen collaboration in multi-stakeholder partnerships in the health sector.

Collaboration in a Partnership for Primary Health Care: A Case Study From Papua New Guinea

INTRODUCTION

In low- and middle-income countries, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are often used to support the delivery of primary health care (PHC). We explore the processes of collaboration in a corporate social responsibility investment in PHC that was delivered through a PPP model in Western Province, Papua New Guinea, in 2009-2018 to strengthen PHC services.

METHODS

Qualitative interviews were conducted with stakeholders in the PPP (N=20). Key program documents were also reviewed. Data were coded using a general inductive approach, and Actor-Network Theory (ANT) was used to frame the analysis.

RESULTS

Four dominant themes emerged: (1) interpersonal relationships accelerate collaboration, (2) collaboration requires time, (3) formal governance structures encourage collaboration, and (4) internal change disrupts collaboration. The research provides insight into the role of collaboration for more efficient, effective, and impactful design and implementation of PPP for PHC. It makes suggestions for how ANT may be used when designing PPPs and for the ongoing management of relationships between partners. We found ANT to be a useful framework to conceptualize the complex dynamics between the "actors" within the PPP and to identify opportunities for improvement where structural changes may be made to circumvent issues that may compromise effective collaboration.

CONCLUSION

Collaboration is key to the success of PPPs for PHC. We found collaboration is not formulaic but is driven by actors, relationships, time, and governance. ANT can assist in designing, understanding, and managing the complex relationships between stakeholders of a PPP, who often come with diverse agendas, experiences, values, and perspectives.

Contextual factors and health service performance from the perspective of the provincial health administrators in Papua New Guinea

INTRODUCTION

The Rural Primary Health Services Delivery Project aims to improve the quality and coverage of health services to rural populations in Papua New Guinea. There are limitations in measuring performance of such projects through analysis of health information system data alone due to data quality issues and a multitude of unmeasured factors that affect performance. A mixed methods study was undertaken to understand the contextual factors that affect health service performance.

METHODS

A performance assessment framework was developed including service delivery indicators derived from the National Health Information System. Prior to implementation, a baseline analysis of the indicators was undertaken. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with health administrators, in which they were asked about factors they perceived to influence health facility performance. During the interviews, key informants were provided with health indicators for their province and asked to interpret the performance of facilities. Interviews were transcribed and inductive thematic analysis performed.

RESULTS

Performance indicators varied greatly within and between districts. Key informants cited a number of reasons for this variation. Health facilities accessible by road in urban areas, with competent and/or higher level staff and health services operated by churches or private companies, were cited as contributors to high performance. For high performing districts, key informants also discussed use of health information, planning and targeted strategies to improve performance. Inadequate numbers of staff, poorly skilled staff, funding delays and challenging geography were major contributors noted for poor performance.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of quantitative indicators needs to be performed at health facility level in order to understand district level performance. Interpretation of performance through key informant interviews provided useful insight into previously undocumented contextual factors affecting health delivery performance. The sequential explanatory mixed methods design could be applied to evaluations of other health service delivery programs in similar contexts.