2017-04-26 22:27:11

By Harvey de Hardt-Kaffils, Communication & Advocacy Specialist, WAHO

Accra, Ghana, April 24, 2017 ' A five-day forum to develop a strategic framework for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the Health sector has opened in Accra. The forum's objective is aimed at establishing a High-Level Dialogue Platform to enable the Public and Private sectors to communicate and share ideas for sustainable collaboration in the health sector.

The Director General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr. Xavier Crespin, noted that, for the sub-region to be able to attain its health targets, both public and private sector support will be critical in financing the health delivery needs of ECOWAS countries. He expressed the hope that the strategic framework will create the needed platform for public and private operators in the health sector to identify opportunities and mobilize resources to improve health delivery. He commended USAID and the other partners for their support to WAHO over the years.

In a remark, the USAID/West Africa Regional Health Director, Rachel Cintron noted that, USAID's collaboration with WAHO is aimed at seeking potential private sector partners and prioritizing private sector investment to enable the ECOWAS sub region to respond to public health emergencies as well as emerging disease threats in West Africa. She noted that, the USAID/Senegal's PPP with International Pharmaceutical giant, Bayer Healthcare is a clear example of the success of PPP in the health sector. She tasked the forum to establish a broad network of private sector partners with shared interest who will commit resources, towards improving the health status of the ECOWAS sub region.

The Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Mr.Bukar Tijani noted that, focus of global health has changed with focus on food and nutrition security and said FAO is working in these areas to compliment the efforts of governments. He added that, PPP is critical to development and said, FAO is willing to support private sector on issues of food and nutrition security.

Delivering the key note address, the Deputy Minister of Health, Ms. Tina Mensah noted that even though, substantial investment in needed in the health sector to enable it achieve its desired outcome, this has become a challenge especially with current trends in the global economic difficulties and dwindled donor funding. '??This is why it is important for the private sector to get on board through PPP to support government in its quest to provide quality health care services'?? she added. Adding that, there is a strong linkage between health, productivity, economic growth and national development.

Ms. Mensah urged the non-health private institutions to get involved in the health sector PPP to get involved as they will also benefit from improved health status of their staff. She announced that, the Ghana's Ministry of Health is in the process of developing incentive packages for non-health institutions. The package will include brand endorsements by the MOH, high visibility of brand to clients who visit public health facilities, corporate wellness programme, regular employee education programme among others. She urged the forum participants to take into consideration existing laws and regulations that seeks to promote PPP whilst ensuing the highest standards. The forum is being attended by stakeholders from the private sector, technical and financial partners, ECOWAS member countries represented by Permanent Secretaries (Chief Directors) of Ministries of Health and Ministries of Finance as well as Directors of Studies and Programmes from the Ministry of Health in the ECOWAS region.

During the five-day forum, participants will: Share country experiences in collaborating with the private sector and their expectations vis-à-vis the private sector;

Share private sector's knowledge and experiences in health interventions; Identify areas of possible public0private partnerships in the health sector, the impact of which will help countries in the region strengthen their capacity to cope with Ebola-type pandemics when they occur;

Identify partnerships that can help finance health protection in the most underpriviledged populations;

Identify areas of collaboration that can complement pubic health care offer through the construction of more standard compliant and well-equipped health facilities; and Discuss the institutionalization of the Forum on Public-Private Partnership in Health in the ECOWAS region.

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