The Health Systems Initiative
About
The GHG’s Health Systems Initiative (HSI) seeks to identify, understand, and promote innovative models for engaging the private sector in health systems strengthening in developing countries. The HSI’s two major areas of focus are Public-Private Investment Partnerships (PPIPs), a novel approach for improving healthcare services and infrastructure; and social franchising, an increasingly significant model for leveraging the resources of existing private healthcare providers to expand access and utilization of quality-assured goods and services that address public health priorities.
Public-Private Investment Partnerships
PPIPs are a form of public-private investment partnerships (PPIPs) that position a private entity, or consortium of private partners, in a long-term relationship with a government to co-finance, design, build, and operate healthcare facilities, and to deliver both clinical and non-clinical services at those facilities. PPIPs enable national governments to leverage private sector expertise and investment to serve public policy goals. The GHG serves as a clearinghouse for information on PPIPs worldwide, evaluating models, disseminating promising practices, and promoting South-South learning exchanges to inform governments that are considering, or embarking on PPIPs.
Social Franchising
Social franchising is a platform for increasing the effectiveness of existing private healthcare providers in developing countries. Social franchises engage private medical practitioners to add important new services by joining a network that supports them and oversees their quality in these new areas. This model offers a way to rapidly provide public health services through a large number of delivery points that reach underserved populations. The GHG is working with implementers and other partners to develop a community of practice on social franchising worldwide.
Publications
Publications and journal articles from the HSI team
Private Sector Resource Website
The HSI Lead, Professor Dominic Montagu, maintains a “private sector for health” website at ps4h.org. It provides an overview of private sector participation in developing country healthcare, with links to current programs, implementing agencies, and relevant documentation.
HSI Team
The HSI team employs a small group of dedicated professionals based in San Francisco, California.
Funding
The HSI is funded through a startup grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has received support from the Rockefeller Foundation.