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Viewpoint: Management of malaria – working with the private sector
Author(s) -
Brugha Ruairi,
Chandramohan Daniel,
Zwi Anthony
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1999.00411.x
Subject(s) - private sector , public sector , business , malaria , service provider , psychological intervention , developing country , public relations , economic growth , service (business) , medicine , marketing , nursing , political science , economics , immunology , law
Summary Recent reviews have demonstrated that a substantial proportion of cases of malaria are managed in the private sector, and international policy initiatives routinely emphasize the need for malaria control programmes to collaborate with the private sector. However, information on how to develop successful partnerships between the public and private sectors remains limited. This paper reviews the current knowledge about the management of malaria by private providers, considers the potential of different strategies for influencing the quality of care provided, and identifies processes for facilitating public‐private sector collaborations. We contend that public sector‐led interventions, such as training of private providers or the distribution of prepackaged antimalarials through the private sector, are unlikely to scale up to sustainable national level programmes if they do not take into account a wide range of needs and concerns, represented by private provider organizations and other interest groups, including service users. These groups should be involved at key stages including the design and piloting of interventions, through to the dissemination and implementation of findings. Research priorities are outlined for the development of tools to facilitate public‐private partnerships for improving the management of malaria.