Brazzaville/Washington, DC, 06 October 2010 - The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo has called for greater private sector involvement to improve health outcomes.

He made this call while addressing delegates at the 2010 Biennial U.S-Africa Private Sector Health Conference, which is taking place from 4 -6 October 2010 in Washington, DC USA. The event is organised by the Corporate Council on Africa, under the theme: “Integrating Business Solutions for Expanding Access: Perspectives from Africa’s Leaders”

Speaking on ‘Public Health priorities and strategies in Africa and the potential role of the business community in expanding access to health services’, Dr Sambo said: “The health problems and health systems challenges in the African Region are too complex for the public sector to address alone. There is a clear need for the private sector to expand its role, bearing in mind the effective purchasing power of people”.

“Just increasing the supply of health services is not sufficient for health development as most people in Africa are poor. We should therefore, be able to manage quality, cost and access to health care, towards improved quality of life, better health status of people and human development”, he added.

The Regional Director gave an overview of the health challenges facing the African region and referred to the weakness of health systems as a key factor that has contributed to the slow progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He highlighted WHO’s priorities for the African Region from 2010 to 2015 as: Supporting the strengthening of health systems based on the primary health care approach; Putting the health of mothers and children first; Accelerated actions on HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases including neglected tropical diseases; Intensifying the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs); and Accelerating response to the determinants of health.

Dr Sambo drew attention to potential areas of private sector involvement to expand access to health services in the African region.

In relation to Strengthening of Health Systems, he said that national health policies and strategic plans should take into account the contributions of both the public and private sectors. He urged the private sector to participate in the implementation of national health legislations and International Health Regulations.

With regard to the provision of health services, the Regional Director pointed out that government may leverage private sector services to construct and maintain health facilities, supply and maintain health sector equipment. The private sector can provide catering, cleaning, laundry and transport services to health facilities. Likewise they could invest in private sector owned health facilities such as private hospitals, clinics and community-based health promotion services.

In terms of health information, he mentioned that the private sector can regularly provide statistics and information on health inputs and outputs from the private health sector and make the necessary investments in e-Health infrastructure and services. They could also conduct and fund biomedical research and health systems research aimed at discovery or improvement of health technologies and access to health care.

Referring to medical products, vaccines and technologies, the Regional Director said that the private sector can complement governments’ efforts in improving health logistics in specific aspects such as procurement, storage and distribution of medical products, vaccines and other technologies. Similarly they could collaborate in the enforcement of drug regulatory mechanisms and pharmacovigilance.

He informed the delegates that as regards health financing, the private sector contribution in strengthening national health financing systems could be through the development and expansion of private health insurance and payment of premium contributions for their employees and families into national social health insurance schemes.

Concerning public health interventions for reduction of burden of disease, Dr Sambo underscored the important role of the private sector in providing support to countries to produce and supply at affordable prices, quality-assured health technologies including preventive tools such as vaccines, condoms and long lasting insecticide nets. They could implement the relevant articles of the WHO framework convention on tobacco control and promote physical activity by creating space for recreation when constructing commercial and residential projects.

He stated that the private sector can also promote healthy diets through the quality of food industry products and provide accurate nutritional facts for consumers in order to enable them make well-informed and healthy choices.

In concluding his address, the Regional Director said that by not selling alcohol to the under-aged; and providing information on risks associated with alcohol abuse; the private sector will be able to support government efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and its effects on health.

The 2010 Biennial U.S.-Africa Private Sector Health Conference is being attended by leaders from the African and U.S. private health sectors, along with representatives from government, academia, multilateral institutions, and NGOs working in health across the continent.

Plenary sessions will focus on critical public health priorities and challenges in Africa. There will also be complementary workshops that will highlight opportunities for the private sector to improve the quality of health care delivery and services; expand access to care to rural populations; increase systems efficiency and performance through information technology and market-based approaches; identify opportunities for sustainable financing; and many others.