Developing Public-Privete Partnership Framwork for Primary Health Care Provision in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Using the capacities and capabilities of the private sector in the form of public-private partnership can be an effective aid to the promotion of primary health care (PHC). Objective: The aim of this study was to develop the public-private partnership framework in PHC based on the experiences and achievements worldwide and in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Material and Methods: The present study was a multi-method research. At first, in the form of a scoping review, assigned services, implementation methods, results and barriers to public-private partnership implementation in PHC were extracted worldwide. In the next step, public-private partnership in PHC provision policy was analyzed using the policy triangle framework. Semi-structured interviews, document analysis and literature review were used for policy analysis. Finally, using the results of the previous steps and interview with experts, the proposed framework for public-private partnership in PHC was designed and validated using two steps of Delphi technique. Results: In the scoping review, 108 articles were included. Based on the scoping review results, public-private partnership plans were mostly implemented to provide tuberculosis’ services. Based on the policy analysis, participants considered political and economic support as the most important factors influencing policy design and implementation. Also, at this step, improving the efficiency of the system was introduced as the main goal of policy. According to the participants, the most important achievement of the policy was the promotion of social justice. Eventually, according to the results of the previous steps, the public-private partnership framework in the form of 5 sections (Infrastructure and prerequisites, How to design and the features of contract, Prerequisites and characteristics of private companies, monitoring and evaluation of private sector’s performance, and Reimbursement to private sector) and 46 options were designed and validated. Conclusion: The framework designed in this study can be used as a guide for policy makers and national and local officials. Successful implementation of this framework requires the commitment and broad support of senior executives and decision makers.