Investigation of Public-private Partnerships in Health Care Delivery in Nakuru District, Kenya
Abstract
Over the past decade some of the best enterprises in the world have adopted the
practice of continuous improvement. Partnership sourcing has been attributed as one of the
success factors of such ventures which builds on previous innovations. Global health
problems require global solutions: partnerships and to some extent mergers have been
formed to provide solutions to the growing list of problems. Partnership sourcing has now
taken center stage in the light of the worlds biggest killer diseases, namely, tuberculosis
(TB), malaria and HIV/AIDS which require joint efforts from the government and the private
health service providers. Kenya has experienced sub-optimal economic performance coupled
with the rising cases or T13, malaria ami IIIV/;\II)S epidemics. Poverty levels especially
among the rural population have been on the rise. This has necessitated the government to
explore the potential of partnering with the private sector so as to tackle some of the national
health problems. One contrasting observation is the congestion levels at government health
facilities by patients waiting for health care while in the private sector, the waiting rooms
arc almost empty.
The findings ofthis study demonstrates clearly that partnerships exist between
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the public and private health care providers in Kenya, However, the levels of partnerships
are low and characterized by mutual awareness. without much cross functional
relationships, On the other hand. available data is indicative that the government can
enter into partnership with private health providers by contracting out facilities and earn
rental incomes, Private providers on the other hand can source diagnostic services and
on. there is foundation of awareness or the potential benefits that would accrue
from partnerships between the public and private health institutions. This awareness now
needs to be translated into practice-a!functional relationships. under mutually agreed
upon terms. so as to yie ld the necessary resul ts in the strengtheni ng of the national health
care delivery system,
Citation
Masters in Business AdminstrationPublisher
University of Nairobi, Faculty Of Commerce