The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated the first interregional meeting focused on the governance of the private health sector to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This historic event, held from July 15–18 in Cairo, Egypt, gathers participants from five WHO regions: AFRO (African Region), EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Region), EURO (European Region), SEARO (South-East Asia Region), and WPRO (Western Pacific Region). Attendees include representatives from health ministries, various partners, and WHO teams from global, regional, and country levels.
One of the central challenges discussed is not the necessity of collaboration with the private sector, but the methodology of such collaboration given the intricate mix of opportunities and risks it presents. Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General of WHO’s Universal Health Coverage/Life Course (UHL) division, emphasized this point, underscoring the importance of strategic partnerships between governments and the private sector.
The global quest for UHC and health for all remains formidable, with billions lacking adequate health services. WHO advocates for reorienting health systems toward a primary health care (PHC) approach as the foundation of UHC. PHC comprises three core components: bringing healthcare closer to people’s everyday environments, empowering communities in health decision-making, and fostering intersectoral action to promote and protect health. This holistic approach necessitates not only direct health service provision by governments but also effective governance and guidance of private sector contributions towards health system goals.
The Cairo meeting aims to discuss lessons and strategies for leveraging the combined resources and expertise of both private and public sectors to strengthen health systems. Key areas of focus include:
Enhancing Health Workforce Capacity: Addressing initiatives and challenges in training and deploying health professionals.
Improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health: Strategies to enhance outcomes in these critical areas.
Increasing Access and Coverage in Fragile Settings: Tackling health service delivery in conflict-affected and unstable regions.
Optimizing Supply Chains: Ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of health supplies.
The emphasis is on ensuring that all health services are of high quality, safe, comprehensive, integrated, accessible, and affordable, aligning with WHO’s broader strategy to achieve UHC through robust governance in mixed health systems.
A significant highlight of the event is the launch of WHO’s latest technical guidance on the governance of the private sector in health, titled Progression Pathway for the Governance of Mixed Health Systems. This tool aims to provide Member States with decision support and capacity-building resources to help align behaviors, capacities, and instruments in governing both public and private sectors in pursuit of UHC, health security, and health systems resilience.
This guidance builds on the WHO Strategy report Engaging the Private Health Service Delivery Sector through Governance in Mixed Health Systems and its technical assistance platform, the Country Connector for the private sector in health. This platform is designed to facilitate the alignment of private sector activities with national health objectives, ensuring a cohesive approach to achieving UHC.
The first interregional meeting on the governance of the private health sector marks a pivotal step in the global effort to achieve UHC. By fostering collaboration between governments and the private sector, and by implementing robust governance frameworks, the WHO aims to enhance health system performance, ensure equitable access to high-quality health services, and ultimately improve health outcomes worldwide.
This meeting sets the stage for continued dialogue and action, laying the groundwork for future initiatives that harness the strengths of both sectors in the pursuit of universal health coverage.
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