Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Public–private partnership as a solution for integrating genetic services into health care of countries with low and middle incomes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Community Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years scientific progress has dramatically raised the potential of genetic services, but the actual benefits of these developments are not universally shared. In countries of low and middle incomes, improvements in genetic services frequently lag behind. Since this is generally caused by lack of resources and not by the lack of political will, the question arises, how can one most easily acquire the necessary capital to improve the health care in these areas. Public–private partnerships (PPPs) offer one approach to solve this issue, aiming at the inclusion of private enterprises in the realisation of public authority services. So far PPPs have been used exclusively in other health service areas. In this paper a first attempt is being made to discuss the feasibility of transferring the concept of PPP to genetic services, and consideration is given as to where the most promising starting point might be. We start by defining a multilevel structure that needs to be considered in providing comprehensive genetic care. We continue by explaining the concept of PPPs and their current types of implementation in medical services. We then examine how the PPP model could be applied to genetic services or sections thereof. We arrive at the conclusion that a likely starting point for PPP in genetic services is at the level of the infrastructure building service.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Axelsson H, Bustreo F, Harding H (2003) Private sector participation in child health. The World Bank Group, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr AD (2007) A research protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of public–private partnerships as a means to improve health and welfare systems worldwide. Am J Public Health 97:19–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bazzoli GJ, Stein R, Alexander JA, Conrad DA, Sofaer S, Shortell SM (1997) Public–private collaboration in health and human service delivery: evidence from community partnerships. Milbank Q 75:533–561

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell J (1998) The new genetics in clinical practice. BMJ 316:618

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett C, Burke S, Burton H, Farndon P (2010) A toolkit for incorporating genetics into mainstream medical services: learning from service development pilots in England. BMC Health Serv Res 10:125

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Björkmann JW (2008) Public-private partnerships in health care services of less developed countries. Manuscript available from the author

  • Blagescu M, Young J (2005) Partnerships and accountability: current thinking and approaches among agencies supporting Civil Society Organisations. Working Paper 255, London; Overseas Development Institute http://kms1.isn.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/22721/ipublicationdocument_singledocument/0D762521-9F6E-4EA2-868D-2465F6038655/en/wp255.pdf. Accessed 26 Dec 2010

  • Bovis C (2010) Editorial—Public private partnerships: the challenges and opportunities for delivering public services in the 21st century. EPPPL 01/2010:1–14

  • Brown D (2008) The portfolio approach to successful product development in global health. In: Matlin S, Francisco A, Sundaram L, Faich H-S, Gehner M (eds) Health partnerships review. Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bühner R (2004) Betriebswirtschaftliche Organisationslehre. Oldenburg, München 196–197

  • Burke W, Khoury MJ, Stewart A, Zimmern RL (2006) The path from genome-based research to population health: development of an international public health genomics network. Genet Med 8:451–458

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buse K, Walt G (2000a) Global public–private partnerships: part I—a new development in health? Bull World Health Organ 78:549–561

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buse K, Walt G (2000b) Global public–private partnerships: part II—what are the health issues for global governance? Bull World Health Organ 78:699–709

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buse K, Waxman A (2001) Public-private health partnerships: a strategy for WHO bulletin of the WHO. Bull World Health Organ 79:748–754

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maternal and Child Health Bureau (2000) Title V Block Grant program; guidance and forms for the Title V application and annual report. HRSA, MCHB, Department of Health and Human Services, OMB NO 0915–0172

  • Christianson A, Zimmern R, Kristoffersson U, J. Schmidtke J, Kent A, Raouf R, Barreiro C, Nippert I (2011) Health needs assessment for medical genetic services for congenital disorders in middle- and low-income nations. J Comm Genet

  • Cohen D, Barton G, Gray J, Brain K (2004) Health economics and genetic service development: a familial cancer genetic example. Fam Cancer 3:61–67

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daiger SP (2005) Was the Human Genome Project worth the effort? Sci 308:362–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Datta A (2009) Public–private partnerships in India: a case for reform? Econ Polit Wkly 44:73–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery J, Hayflick S (2001) The challenge of integrating genetic medicine into primary care. BMJ 322:1027. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7293.1027

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fozouni B, Güntert B (2000) Prioritätensetzung im deutschen Gesundheitswesen—die Triade zwischen Rationierung, Rationalisierung und rationaler Allokation. Gesundheitswesen 62:559–567

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goel NK, Galhotra A, Swami HM (2007) Public private partnerships in the health sector. The Internet Journal of Health. http://www.ispub.com/journal/the_internet_journal_of_health/volume_6_number_2_7/article/public_private_partnerships_in_the_health_sector.html. Accessed 26 Dec 2010

  • Gwatkin D, Guillot M (1999) The burden of disease among the global poor: current situation, future trends, and implications for strategy. World Bank, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwen D (2008) PPP initiatives and the HR crisis in the health sector. Working paper. http://stpse.ro/atasamente/226_C_Working%20paper_V4.pdf. Accessed 26 Dec 2010

  • Jung H (2006) Allgemeine Betriebswirtschaftslehre. Oldenburg, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Karki DK, Mirzoev TN, Green AT, Newell JN, Baral SC (2007) Costs of a successful public–private partnership for TB control in an urban setting in Nepal. BMC Public Health. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-84

  • Kaye CI, Laxova R, Livingston JE, Lloyd-Puryear MA, Mann M, McCabe E, Therrell BL (2001) Integrating genetic services into public health—guidance for state and territorial programs from the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center (NNSGRC). Community Genet 4:175–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kettler H, White K, Jordan S (2003) Valuing industry contributions to public–private partnerships for health product development. Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships for Health, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Kickbusch I, Quick J (1998) Partnerships for health in the 21st century. World Health Stat Q 51:68–74

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lüders J (2009) Public Private Partnership—Der Versuch einer kritischen Auseinandersetzung. GRIN, Norderstedt

    Google Scholar 

  • Meredith S, Ziemba E (2008) The new landscape of product development partnerships (PDPs). In: Matlin S, Francisco A, Sundaram L, Faich H-S, Gehner M (eds) Health partnerships review. Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell-Weaver C, Manning B (1992) Public–private partnerships in third world development: a conceptual overview. Stud Comp Int Dev 26:45–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolic I, Maikisch H (2006) Public–private partnerships and collaboration in the health sector. An overview with case studies from recent European experience. Working paper. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2006/11/01/000090341_20061101140721/Rendered/PDF/378070Public0p1artnerships01PUBLIC1.pdf. Accessed 17 Dec 2010

  • Nishtar S (2004) Public–private partnerships in health—a global call to action. Health Res Pol Syst. doi:10.1186/1478-4505-2-5

  • Nwaka S, Ridley RG (2003) Virtual drug discovery and development for neglected diseases through public–private partnerships. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2:919–928

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ollila E (2003) Health-related public–private partnerships and the United Nations. In: Deacon B, Ollila E, Koivusalo M, Stubbs P (eds) Global social governance: themes and prospects. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Helsinki, pp 36–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne D, Gaebler T (1992) Reinventing government: how the entrepreneurial spirit is transforming the public sector. Addison-Wesley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Paz-y-Miño C (2004) Genetic services in Ecuador. Community Genet 7:137–41

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pefile S (2003) Donation programmes for HIV/AIDS-related the early experience of the Diflucan® partnership programme and Viramune® donation programme. Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships for Health, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters DH, Phillips T (2004) Mectizan donation program: evaluation of a public–private partnership. Trop Med Int Health 9:A4–A1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radwan I (2005) India - Private Health Services for the Poor. Discussion paper, 958 Washington, DC. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/HEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/Resources/281627–1095698140167/RadwanIndiaPrivateHealthFinal.pdf. Accessed 14 Mai 2012

  • Raman AV, Björkman JW (2009) Public–private partnership in the provision of health care services to the poor in India. In: Dinello N, Shaoguang W (eds) China, India and beyond—development drivers and limitations. Edward Elger Publishing, Cheltonham, pp 143–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich M (2000) Public–private partnerships for public health. Nat Med 6:617–620

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richter J (2004a) Public–private partnerships for health: a trend with no alternatives? Development 47:43–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter J (2004b) Public-private partnerships and international health policy-making. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Helsinki, http://formin.finland.fi/Public/Print.aspx?contentid=73317&nodeid=15458&culture=en-US&contentlan=2. Accessed 04 Jan 2011

  • Rosenau P (1999) The strengths and weaknesses of public–private policy partnerships. Am Behav Sci 43:10–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinanovic E, Kumaranayake L (2006a) Financing and cost-effectiveness analysis of public–private partnerships: provision of tuberculosis treatment in South Africa. Cost Eff Resour Alloc. doi:10.1186/1478-7547-4-11

  • Sinanovic E, Kumaranayake L (2006b) Sharing the burden of TB/HIV? Costs and financing of public–private partnerships for tuberculosis treatment in South Africa. Trop Med Int Health 11:1466–1474

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith R (2000) Vaccines and medicines for the world's poorest. Public–private partnerships seem to be essential. BMJ 320:952–953

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • The World Bank Partnerships Group (1998) Partnership for development: proposed actions for the World Bank. Discussion paper, Washington, DC. http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/pfd-discpaper.pdf. Accessed 24 Feb 2011

  • Transparency International (2010) The Corruption Perception Index 2010. ISBN 978-3-935711-60-9

  • United Nations (1997) Public–private partnerships: the enabling environment for development. http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan000727.pdf. Accessed 04 Jan 2011

  • Wheeler C, Berkley S (2001) Initial lessons from public–private partnerships in drug and vaccine development. WHO Bulletin 79:728–734

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widdus R (2001) Public–private partnerships for health: their main targets, their diversity, and their future directions. WHO Bulletin 79:713–720

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widdus R (2003) Public–private partnerships for health require thoughtful evaluation. Bull World Health Organ 81:235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widdus R (2005) Public–private partnerships: an overview. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg 99:S1–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Widdus R, White K (2004) Combating diseases associated with poverty–financing strategies for product development and the potential role of public–private partnerships. The Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships for Health (IPPPH), Geneva. http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/topics/ppp/en/CombatingDiseases-Abridged.pdf. Accessed 04 Jan 2011

  • World Health Organisation (2007) Draft global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property. http://apps.who.int/gb/phi/pdf/igwg2/PHI_IGWG2_ID3-en.pdf. Accessed 04 Jan 2011

  • Wright CF, Brice P, Stewart A, Burton H (2010) Realising the benefits of genetics for health. Lancet 376:1370–1371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yaïch M (2009) Investing in vaccines for developing countries: how public–private partnerships can confront neglected diseases. Landes Biosci 5:368–369

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziemba E (2004) Public–private partnerships for neglected diseases: opportunities to address pharmaceutical gaps for neglected diseases. Background paper. http://archives.who.int/prioritymeds/report/background/pubpriv.doc, Accessed 27 Apr 2012

  • Ziemba E (2005) Public–private partnerships for product development: financial, scientific and managerial issues as challenges to future success. Research report. http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/studies/Ziemba.pdf, Accesses 26 Dec 2010

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Hilary Harris for the support and critically reading the manuscript. Mike Gibson’s editorial help is gratefully acknowledged. All members of the Capability and GenTEE partnerships are thanked for discussions. This project was part of the CAPABILITY Special Support Action funded by the EC 6th Framework Programme, contract number: LSSG-CT-2006-037275.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Management, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen, Nuremberg, Germany

    Florian Meier & Oliver Schöffski

  2. Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    Jörg Schmidtke

Authors
  1. Florian Meier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Oliver Schöffski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jörg Schmidtke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florian Meier.

Additional information

This is a contribution to Special Issue: Capability.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meier, F., Schöffski, O. & Schmidtke, J. Public–private partnership as a solution for integrating genetic services into health care of countries with low and middle incomes. J Community Genet 4, 309–320 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-012-0099-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-012-0099-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation