Private Sector Participation in Child Health : A Review of World Bank Projects, 1993-2002
There is an increasing amount of evidence to support the view that the private sector significantly influences child health and nutrition outcomes through both service provision and supply of health related goods. In this context, this paper analyz...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/05/3424179/private-sector-participation-child-health-review-world-bank-projects-1993-2002 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13793 |
| Summary: | There is an increasing amount of
evidence to support the view that the private sector
significantly influences child health and nutrition outcomes
through both service provision and supply of health related
goods. In this context, this paper analyzes World Bank
projects in Health, Nutrition and Population between fiscal
years 1993-2002. The paper identifies the range of
approaches taken to involve the private sector in improving
child health outcomes; the actors involved; the type of
activities supported by the projects; and examples of
successful private sector participation. The paper's
concludes: As measured by the proportion of projects (more
than 50 perccent) that involved the private sector in child
health, private sector participation was significant. As
measured by the magnitude of involvement (budget amounts and
stated project objectives), the degree of private sector
participation was relatively small for most projects. Since
most projects did not mention a systematic assessment of
potential and opportunities to engage the private sector, it
was difficult to assess whether or not engagement of the
private sector was intentional. It was not possible to
analyze how and if private sector participation resulted in
better health for children, as private sector monitoring
indicators measured process and not outcomes. The paper
recommends: Encourage engagement of the private sector in
World Bank projects addressing child health outcomes.
Increase support to World Bank staff and its clients, for
example through manuals or toolkits and field demonstrations
of successful strategies to engage the private sector in
child health programs. Conduct systematic assessments of the
potential of the private sector to contribute to improved
child health programs. Develop indicators that can measure
which approaches lead from private sector engagement to
better health for children. Incorporate mechanisms, such as
health insurance, risk sharing, subsidies and targeted
public health expenditures, to protect the poor and ensure
that they are not further impoverished due to payments for
health care services. |
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