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Rakesh PS, Shannawaz M. Ensuring universal access to quality care for persons with presumed tuberculosis reaching the private sector: lessons from Kerala. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:101. [PMID: 38760667 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02151-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than half of the people with Tuberculosis (TB) symptoms in India seek care from the private sector. People with TB getting treatment from private sector in India are considered to be at a higher risk for receiving suboptimal quality of care in terms of incorrect diagnosis and treatment, lack of treatment adherence support with a high loss to follow-up rate that could eventually increase their risk of drug resistance. The current study aims at documenting the approach and efforts taken by the Kerala state to partner with the private health care delivery providers for ensuring quality TB care to the people with presumed TB reaching them. METHODS A case study approach was adopted with review of all available literature followed by five Key Informant Interviews to understand the case through a primary descriptive exploration. Grounded theory approach was used to generating the single theory of the case itself that explains it. RESULTS Kerala state has taken a variety of interventions to ensure universal access to TB care for citizens reaching the private sector with documented improvement in the quality of TB care. Key learnings from these initiatives were (i) patients need to be at the centre of partnerships, (ii) good governance is essential for ensuring Universal Health Coverage in a mixed health system, (iii) data intelligence is required to guide partnerships, (iv) identification of the correct 'problems' is crucial for effective design of partnerships and (v) a platform for meaningful dialogue of key stakeholders is needed. CONCLUSION Kerala experience demonstrated that if governments take a proactive role in engaging the private sector, in an informed and evidence-based way, they can leverage the advantages of the private sector while protecting the public health interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- P S Rakesh
- Amity Institute of Public Health & Hospital Administration, Amity University, Noida, India.
- The Union South East Asia Office, New Delhi, India.
| | - Mohd Shannawaz
- Amity Institute of Public Health & Hospital Administration, Amity University, Noida, India
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Sodhi R, Penkunas MJ, Pal A. Free drug provision for tuberculosis increases patient follow-ups and successful treatment outcomes in the Indian private sector: a quasi experimental study using propensity score matching. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:421. [PMID: 37344775 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The private sector is an important yet underregulated component of the TB treatment infrastructure in India. The Joint Effort for Elimination of Tuberculosis (Project JEET) aims to link private sector TB care with the constellation of social support mechanisms available through the Indian National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), including the provision of free fixed-dose combination (FDCs) drugs to patients. This quasi-experimental study analysed routinely collected data to determine the impact of free drugs on patient follow-ups and treatment outcomes. METHODS We used data for private sector patients enrolled with Project JEET who were diagnosed with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB between 1 and 2019 and 31 March 2020, and completed treatment by 31 December 2021. Propensity score matching was used to create a dataset to compare the number of follow-ups and proportion of successful treatment outcomes for patients on free drugs to a control group who paid out-of-pocket. 11,621 matched pairs were included in the analysis. Logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression models were used to estimate the impact of free drugs on number of follow-ups and treatment success, where latter is defined as treatment completion or cure. RESULTS After controlling for potential confounders, patients on free drugs received on average 2.522 (95% C.I.: 2.325 to 2.719) additional follow-ups compared to patients who paid out of pocket. This equates to a 25% mean and 32% median increase in follow-ups for patients availing free drugs. For treatment success, patients receiving free drugs had 45% higher odds of a successful treatment (Odds Ratio: 1.452, 95% C.I.: 1.288 to 1.637). CONCLUSIONS Patients receiving free drugs were found to follow up with their treatment coordinator more frequently, in part likely to enable drug refilling, compared to patients who were paying out of pocket. These additional contacts would have offered opportunities to address concerns regarding side effects, provide additional treatment information, and connect with social support services, all of which subsequently contributed to patients' continual engagement with their treatment. This potentially represents the unmeasured effect of free drugs on continual social support, which translates into a higher odds of treatment success for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridhima Sodhi
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc., New Delhi, India.
| | | | - Arnab Pal
- Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc., New Delhi, India
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Edwards HM, Sarwar R, Mahmud P, Emmanuel S, Maxwell K, Tibenderana JK. The private sector market for malaria rapid diagnostic tests in Nigeria: results of the 2018 market survey. Malar J 2022; 21:190. [PMID: 35710474 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04209-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To avoid misuse of anti-malarials, correct diagnosis of fever prior to drug prescription is essential. Presumptive treatment in the private healthcare sector is a concern in Nigeria, where availability of affordable artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is high following the implementation of subsidy schemes from 2010 to 2017. Similar subsidies have not, however, been implemented for malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). A market survey in 2018 predominantly designed to assess the ACT market in the private sector also collected data related to RDTs, results of which are presented herein. METHODS A 2018 market survey consisted of (i) an outlet survey targeting private pharmacies and Proprietary and Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) across different regions of Nigeria to assess supply-side market factors related to availability of RDTs (defined as having stock available for purchase at the time of the survey) and (ii) a household survey to determine demand-side factors related to knowledge of RDTs, healthcare-seeking practices and affordability. RESULTS Availability of RDTs at the time of the survey was low in both outlet types and significantly lower in PPMVs (22.1%, 95% CI) among pharmacies versus (13.6%, 95% CI) among PPMVs (p < 0.01). Reasons for not restocking RDTs included low demand and no supply. The majority of households diagnose malaria based on experience, while one-third would visit a PPMV or pharmacy. Half of households had heard of RDTs (48.4%) and 38.6% thought they were affordable. CONCLUSIONS Low availability of RDTs among PPMVs and pharmacies may be attributed to lack of demand, supply-side issues and cost. Increasing household knowledge of RDTs may aid increasing demand, while subsidized RDTs may address supply and price issues. Addressing the deficit in RDT provision is important for targeting of ACT medicines.
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Hunt D. How food companies use social media to influence policy debates: a framework of Australian ultra-processed food industry Twitter data. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:3124-35. [PMID: 33222709 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020003353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand if, and how, Australian ultra-processed food industry actors use Twitter to influence food and health policy debates and produce a conceptual framework to describe such influence. DESIGN Twitter data of prominent industry actors were defined through purposive sampling and inductively coded to investigate possible influence on food and health policy debates. These are described using descriptive statistics and coded extracts. SETTING Australia. PARTICIPANTS Twitter accounts of nine prominent ultra-processed food industry actors, including major trade associations. RESULTS Ultra-processed food industry actors actively used Twitter to influence food and health policy debates. Seven overarching strategies were identified: co-opting public health narratives; opposing regulation; supporting voluntary, co- or self-regulation; engaging policy processes and decision-makers; linking regulatory environments to the need for ongoing profitability; affecting public perceptions and value judgements; and using ignorance claims to distort policy narratives. Each lobbying strategy is underpinned with tactics described throughout and captured in a framework. CONCLUSIONS The current study creates a framework to monitor how food industry actors can use social media to influence food and health policy debates. As such, social media appears to be not only an important commercial determinant of health for brand marketing, but also an extension of lobbying practices to reshape public perceptions of corporate conduct and policy-making.
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Sidibe A, Maglior A, Cueto C, Chen I, Le Menach A, Chang MA, Eisele TP, Andrinopolous K, Cherubin J, Lemoine JF, Bennett A. Assessing the role of the private sector in surveillance for malaria elimination in Haiti and the Dominican Republic: a qualitative study. Malar J 2019; 18:408. [PMID: 31806025 PMCID: PMC6896765 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3024-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR) are targeting malaria elimination by 2022. The private health sector has been relatively unengaged in these efforts, even though most primary health care in Haiti is provided by non-state actors, and many people use traditional medicine. Data on private health sector participation in malaria elimination efforts are lacking, as are data on care-seeking behaviour of patients in the private health sector. This study sought to describe the role of private health sector providers, care-seeking behaviour of individuals at high risk of malaria, and possible means of engaging the private health sector in Hispaniola's malaria elimination efforts. METHODS In-depth interviews with 26 key informants (e.g. government officials), 62 private providers, and 63 patients of private providers, as well as 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members, were conducted within seven study sites in Haiti and the DR. FGDs focused on local definitions of the private health sector and identified private providers for interview recruitment, while interviews focused on private health sector participation in malaria elimination activities and treatment-seeking behaviour of febrile individuals. RESULTS Interviews revealed that self-medication is the most common first step in the trajectory of care for fevers in both Haiti and the DR. Traditional medicine is more commonly used in Haiti than in the DR, with many patients seeking care from traditional healers before, during, and/or after care in the formal health sector. Private providers were interested in participating in malaria elimination efforts but emphasized the need for ongoing support and training. Key informants agreed that the private health sector needs to be engaged, especially traditional healers in Haiti. The Haitian migrant population was reported to be one of the most at-risk groups by participants from both countries. CONCLUSION Malaria elimination efforts across Hispaniola could be enhanced by engaging traditional healers in Haiti and other private providers with ongoing support and trainings; directing educational messaging to encourage proper treatment-seeking behaviour; and refining cross-border strategies for surveillance of the high-risk migrant population. Increasing distribution of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and bi-therapy to select private health sector facilities, accompanied by adopting regulatory policies, could help increase numbers of reported and correctly treated malaria cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Sidibe
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alysse Maglior
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carmen Cueto
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ingrid Chen
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Michelle A Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas P Eisele
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Adam Bennett
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, The Global Health Group, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Olu O, Drameh-Avognon P, Asamoah-Odei E, Kasolo F, Valdez T, Kabaniha G, Karamagi H, Good S, O'Malley H, Yoti Z, Razakazoa N, Minkoulou E, Dangou JM, Mbola Mbassi S, Castellon MS, Cabore J, Moeti M. Community participation and private sector engagement are fundamental to achieving universal health coverage and health security in Africa: reflections from the second Africa health forum. BMC Proc 2019; 13:7. [PMID: 31737089 PMCID: PMC6849158 DOI: 10.1186/s12919-019-0170-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inadequate access to quality health care services due to weak health systems and recurrent public health emergencies are impediments to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage and health security in Africa. To discuss these challenges and deliberate on plausible solutions, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, in collaboration with the Government of Cabo Verde, convened the second Africa Health Forum in Praia, Cabo Verde on 26–28 March 2019, under the theme Achieving Universal Health Coverage and Health Security: The Africa We Want to See. Methods The Forum was conducted through technical sessions consisting of high-level, moderated panel discussions on specific themes, some of them preceded by keynote addresses. There were booth exhibitions by Member States, World Health Organization and other organizations to facilitate information exchanges. A Communiqué highlighting the recommendations of the Forum was issued during the closing ceremony. More than 750 participants attended. Relevant information from the report of the Forum and notes by the authors were extracted and synthesized into these proceedings. Conclusions The Forum participants agreed that the role of community engagement and participation in the attainment of Universal Health Coverage, health security and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be overemphasized. The public sector of Africa alone cannot achieve these three interrelated goals; other partners, such as the private sector, must be engaged. Technological innovations will be a key driver of the attainment of these goals; hence, there is need to harness the comparative advantages that they offer. Attainment of the three goals is also intertwined – achieving one paves the way for achieving the others. Thus, there is need for integrated public health approaches in the planning and implementation of interventions aimed at achieving them. Recommendations To ensure that the recommendations of this Forum are translated into concrete actions in a sustainable manner, we call on African Ministers of Health to ensure their integration into national health sector policies and strategic documents and to provide the necessary leadership required for their implementation. We also call on partners to mainstream these recommendations into their ongoing support to World Health Organization African Member States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olushayo Olu
- WHO Country Office, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
| | | | - Emil Asamoah-Odei
- 3Consultant, Regional Director's Office, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Francis Kasolo
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Grace Kabaniha
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Suvajee Good
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Helena O'Malley
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Zabulon Yoti
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Nirina Razakazoa
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | | | | | | | | | - Joseph Cabore
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Matshidiso Moeti
- 2WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
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Abstract
Introduction: Engaging the private sector effectively has been considered as the single most important intervention required for Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) to achieve the overall goal of universal access and early detection. This study attempts to identify the barriers and facilitators in the involvement of private practioners in signed schemes of RNTCP. Materials and Methods: Six focus group discussions - four among private sector doctors and two among RNTCP TB key workers and 10 key informant interviews were conducted. Themes were divided into private sector involvement in RNTCP, barriers for private sector involvement, facilitators for private sector involvement and suggestions for better PPP. Results: General feel was that private sector involvement in RNTCP was increasing. Public sector at ground level has not really understood the need to engage the private sector. Lack of capacity for public sector staff to understand and deal with private sector, power relations and not taking hospital managements to trust emerged as important barriers for engagement while private sector doctors expressed concerns over patient confidentiality and patient choices, apprehension of losing patients, inability of program to keep commitments and timely payments, poor recognition to private sector, bureaucratic hurdles and cumbersome formalities. Building locally customised partnership schemes, behaviour change for PPP, building managerial capacity of Public sector to deal with private sector, presence of an interphase agency and quality control through a participatory body were important suggestions for improvement of PPP. Conclusion: Strategies have to be formulated to customise partnership for private sector doctors using the flexibilities of the program. Strengthening PPP will be possible in presence of strong administrative will and the understanding that personal relationships are the best key to Public Private Partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Nair
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Sairu Philip
- Department of Community Medicine, Government TD Medical College, Alapuzha, Kerala, India
| | - Ravi Prasad Varma
- Department of Epidemiology, AMCHSS, SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - P S Rakesh
- Department of Community Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Hung KKC, Mark CKM, Yeung MPS, Chan EYY, Graham CA. The role of the hotel industry in the response to emerging epidemics: a case study of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong. Global Health 2018; 14:117. [PMID: 30482214 PMCID: PMC6260697 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-018-0438-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global travel and tourism industry has been rapidly expanding in the past decades. The traditional focus on border screening, and by airline and cruise industries may be inadequate due to the incubation period of an infectious disease. This case study highlights the potential role of the hotel industry in epidemic preparedness and response. METHODS This case study focuses on the epidemic outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and H1N1 swine flu in 2009 in Hong Kong, and the subsequent guidelines published by the health authority in relation to the hotel industry in Hong Kong which provide the backbone for discussion. RESULTS The Metropole Hotel hastened the international spread of the 2003 SARS outbreak by the index case infecting visitors from Singapore, Vietnam, Canada as well as local people via close contact with the index case and the environmental contamination. The one-week quarantine of more than 300 guests and staff at the Metropark Hotel during the 2009 H1N1 swine flu exposed gaps in the partnership with the hotel industry. The subsequent guidelines for the hotel industry from the Centre of Health Protection focused largely on the maintenance of hygiene within the hotel premises. CONCLUSION Positive collaborations may bring about effective preparedness across the health and the tourism sectors for future epidemics. Regular hygiene surveillance at hotel facilities, and developing coordination mechanism for impending epidemics on the use of screening, swift reporting and isolation of infected persons may help mitigate the impact of future events. Preparedness and contingency plans for infectious disease control for the hotel industry requires continuous engagement and dialogue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin K. C. Hung
- Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Trauma & Emergency Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
| | - Carman K. M. Mark
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
| | - May P. S. Yeung
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
| | - Emily Y. Y. Chan
- Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Trauma & Emergency Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
| | - Colin A. Graham
- Accident and Emergency Medicine Academic Unit, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Trauma & Emergency Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories Hong Kong
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Bennett A, Avanceña ALV, Wegbreit J, Cotter C, Roberts K, Gosling R. Engaging the private sector in malaria surveillance: a review of strategies and recommendations for elimination settings. Malar J 2017; 16:252. [PMID: 28615026 PMCID: PMC5471855 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1901-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In malaria elimination settings, all malaria cases must be identified, documented and investigated. To facilitate complete and timely reporting of all malaria cases and effective case management and follow-up, engagement with private providers is essential, particularly in settings where the private sector is a major source of healthcare. However, research on the role and performance of the private sector in malaria diagnosis, case management and reporting in malaria elimination settings is limited. Moreover, the most effective strategies for private sector engagement in malaria elimination settings remain unclear. METHODS Twenty-five experts in malaria elimination, disease surveillance and private sector engagement were purposively sampled and interviewed. An extensive review of grey and peer-reviewed literature on private sector testing, treatment, and reporting for malaria was performed. Additional in-depth literature review was conducted for six case studies on eliminating and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. RESULTS The private health sector can be categorized based on their commercial orientation or business model (for-profit versus nonprofit) and their regulation status within a country (formal vs informal). A number of potentially effective strategies exist for engaging the private sector. Conducting a baseline assessment of the private sector is critical to understanding its composition, size, geographical distribution and quality of services provided. Facilitating reporting, referral and training linkages between the public and private sectors and making malaria a notifiable disease are important strategies to improve private sector involvement in malaria surveillance. Financial incentives for uptake of rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy should be combined with training and community awareness campaigns for improving uptake. Private sector providers can also be organized and better engaged through social franchising, effective regulation, professional organizations and government outreach. CONCLUSION This review highlights the importance of engaging private sector stakeholders early and often in the development of malaria elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Bennett
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Anton L. V. Avanceña
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Jennifer Wegbreit
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Chris Cotter
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Kathryn Roberts
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Roly Gosling
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
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Abstract
Achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals is dependent on increasing take-up of preventive public health services (PHSs) in developing countries. Poor country governments often lack the resources to provide optimal access to preventive services and a great deal of attention is being directed towards the private sector to fill this void. In many developing countries, the private sector already plays a large role in health care. However, the for-profit private sector has little incentive to provide PHSs. The lack of provision of services by the for-profit sector may create a barrier to take-up of these services. In this study, we use data from a census of health facilities combined with data from community and provider surveys from Kenya to analyse whether the private for-profit sector has lower provision rates of child immunization services, and subsequently whether this creates a barrier that results in lower immunization take-up. We show that only 34% of for-profit facilities provide immunizations and that in areas with a larger share of for-profit providers, children are more likely to have no immunization coverage. Our model predicts that the odds of a child receiving no immunization coverage are 4.8 times higher in areas where all health facilities are for-profit compared to areas with no for-profit facilities. This indicates that a policy of engagement with the private for-profit sector aimed at increasing provision of immunization services may be an effective strategy for increasing take-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj Sood
- Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, 3335 S. Figueroa Street, Unit A, Los Angeles, CA 90089-7273, USA. E-mail:
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