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The Role of the Private Sector in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences From Four Health Systems.
Wallace, Lauren J; Agyepong, Irene; Baral, Sushil; Barua, Deepa; Das, Mahua; Huque, Rumana; Joshi, Deepak; Mbachu, Chinyere; Naznin, Baby; Nonvignon, Justice; Ofosu, Anthony; Onwujekwe, Obinna; Sharma, Shreeman; Quayyum, Zahidul; Ensor, Tim; Elsey, Helen.
  • Wallace LJ; Dodowa Health Research Centre, Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
  • Agyepong I; Public Health Faculty, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana.
  • Baral S; HERD International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Barua D; ARK Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Das M; Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
  • Huque R; Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, and ARK Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Joshi D; HERD International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Mbachu C; Health Policy Research Group, The College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Naznin B; Centre of Excellence for Urban Equity and Health, Brac James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Nonvignon J; Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
  • Ofosu A; Ghana Health Services, Accra, Ghana.
  • Onwujekwe O; Health Policy Research Group, The College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nsukka, Nigeria.
  • Sharma S; HERD International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Quayyum Z; Centre of Excellence for Urban Equity and Health, Brac James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Ensor T; Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.
  • Elsey H; Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom.
Front Public Health ; 10: 878225, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1903224
ABSTRACT
As societies urbanize, their populations have become increasingly dependent on the private sector for essential services. The way the private sector responds to health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic can determine the health and economic wellbeing of urban populations, an effect amplified for poorer communities. Here we present a qualitative document analysis of media reports and policy documents in four low resource settings-Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria-between January and September 2020. The review focuses on two questions (i) Who are the private sector actors who have engaged in the COVID-19 first wave response and what was their role?; and (ii) How have national and sub-national governments engaged in, and with, the private sector response and what have been the effects of these engagements? Three main roles of the private sector were identified in the review. (1) Providing resources to support the public health response. (2) Mitigating the financial impact of the pandemic on individuals and businesses. (3) Adjustment of services delivered by the private sector, within and beyond the health sector, to respond to pandemic-related business challenges and opportunities. The findings suggest that a combination of public-private partnerships, contracting, and regulation have been used by governments to influence private sector involvement. Government strategies to engage the private sector developed quickly, reflecting the importance of private services to populations. However, implementation of regulatory responses, especially in the health sector, has often been weak reflecting the difficulty governments have in ensuring affordable, quality private services. Lessons for future pandemics and other health emergencies include the need to ensure that essential non-pandemic health services in the government and non-government sector can continue despite elevated risks, surge capacity to minimize shortages of vital public health supplies is available, and plans are in place to ensure private workplaces remain safe and livelihoods protected.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Private Sector / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2022.878225

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Private Sector / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2022.878225