Constraints, Challenges and Prospects of PublicâPrivate Partnership in HealthâCare Delivery in a Developing Economy

Anyaehie USB; Nwakoby BAN; Chikwendu C; Dim CC; Uguru N; Oluka CPI; Ogugua C

Constraints, Challenges and Prospects of Public‑Private Partnership in Health‑Care Delivery in a Developing Economy

Author(s):

Anyaehie USB, Nwakoby BAN, Chikwendu C, Dim CC, Uguru N, Oluka CPI, Ogugua C

Background: In Nigeria, concerns on the quality and financing of healthâ�?�?care delivery especially in the public sector have initiated reforms including support for publicâ�?�?private partnerships (PPP) at the Federal Ministry of Health. Likewise, Enugu State has developed a draft policy on PPP since 2005. However, nonâ�?�?validation and nonâ�?�?implementation of this policy might have led to loss of interest in the partnership. Aim: The aim of this study was to provide evidence for planning the implementation of PPP in Enugu State health system via a multiâ�?�?sectoral identification of challenges, constraints and prospects. Subjects and Methods: Preâ�?�?tested questionnaires were administered to 466 respondents (251 health workers and 215 community members), selected by multiâ�?�?stage sampling method from nine Local Government Areas of Enugu State, Nigeria, over a study period of April 2011 to September 2011. Data from the questionnaires were collated manually and quantitative data analyzed using SPSS version 15 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Only 159 (34.1%, 159/466) of all respondents actually understood the meaning of PPP though 251 (53.9%) of them had claimed knowledge of the concept. This actual understanding was higher among health workers (57.8%, 145/251) when compared with the community members (6.5%, 14/215) (P < 0.001). Postâ�?�?PPP enlightenment reviews showed a more desire for PPP implementation among private healthâ�?�?care workers (89.4%, 101/113) and community leaders/members (55.4%, 119/215). Conclusion: PPP in healthâ�?�?care delivery in Enugu State is feasible with massive awareness, elaborate stakeholder’s engagements and wellâ�?�?structured policy before implementation. A critical challenge will be to convince the public sector workers who are the anticipated partners to accept and support private sector participation.