Health security and pandemic preparedness efforts are usually led by the public sector, and often fail to include private sector providers. But community pharmacists and private sector providers make up nearly 40% of health services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and are essential in the fight against infectious diseases. Given this reality, it is essential we leverage the private sector to strengthen health security and pandemic preparedness.
Private sector providers are not just healthcare professionals, they are trusted community members. Because of their high volume of clients, they are often the first point of contact for people who contract infectious diseases, which is of critical importance in preventing and monitoring disease outbreaks. They have the local knowledge and relationships needed to support a community-led outbreak response effectively. By integrating them into our health security strategies, we can create a more resilient and responsive mixed health system.
The untapped potential of private providers
A new PSI-led study surveyed 1,008 registered pharmacies and 574 providers from clinics and hospitals across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The results highlight the often-overlooked role of private healthcare providers in pandemic preparedness and response. Through this study, we learned:
The majority of private sector providers are not engaged by local authorities in pandemic preparedness and response activities – Between 2020 and 2022, only 37% of private providers reported being involved in preparedness activities (e.g. contact tracing, advising on health emergencies, surveillance activities, case detection and reporting, and more), and 33% in emergency response efforts. Cambodia saw higher engagement of private providers (38%) compared to Vietnam (22%) and Laos (20%). In Vietnam, 59% of all respondents were involved in preparedness activities, however in Cambodia and Laos, respondents reported more involvement in response efforts. Healthcare providers in private clinics were more engaged (43%) compared to pharmacies (27%).
Private sector providers are willing and able to help strengthen health security – A significant percentage (85% in Cambodia; 89% in Laos; 83% in Vietnam) of providers expressed moderate to high willingness to get involved in disease surveillance and community engagement. Those with prior experience in public health efforts were even more eager to participate.
How to build private sector capacity for health security
To truly harness the power of private providers, we must systematically include them in health security investments. This means providing them with the resources, training, and support they need to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases.
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