Private health provision in Uttar Pradesh, India

Type Journal Article - Health Policy Research in South Asia
Title Private health provision in Uttar Pradesh, India
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2002
Page numbers 257-278
URL http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2003/12/08/000090341_20031208111101/Re​ndered/PDF/272100PAPER0Health0policy0research.pdf#page=285
Abstract
act While the dominance of private health care delivery in India is widely acknowledged, little empirical evidence exists on how it functions. This chapter examines how the private health sector is functioning in Uttar Pradesh (UP), and identifies opportunities for collaboration between public and private sectors. A survey was conducted in three districts in UP among different types of private providers: solo practitioners (allopathic and alternative providers), small and large hospitals, and diagnostic centers. The survey showed that most facilities are established to provide a living or profit to the owner, but do offer numerous financing concessions to their patients. The main constraints private providers face include labor and infrastructure problems. Few quality assurance mechanisms are used, although voluntary accreditation and continuing education programs would be welcomed. Private providers work quite independently from the public sector but would favor further collaboration through training, contracting, and working together on national health programs. This finding suggests that there is considerable potential for public-private collaboration in UP.

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