Global public-private partnerships: part I - a new development in health?

The proliferation of public-private partnerships is rapidly reconfiguring t he international health landscape. This article (part I of two on the subje ct) traces the changing nature of partnership, and discusses the definition al and conceptual ambiguities surrounding the term. After defining global p ublic-private partnerships (GPPPs) for health development, we analyse the f actors wh icb have led to the convergence of public and private actors and discuss the consequences of the trend toward partnership between UN agencie s (including the World Bank) and commercial entities in the health sector. Generic factors such as globalization and disillusionment with the UN, and factors specific to the health sector, such as market failure in product de velopment for orphan diseases, are examined. Reviewed a re the interests, p olicies, practices and concerns of the UN, the private-for-profit sector, b ilateral organizations, and governments of low-income countries with respec t to public-private partnership. While GPPPs bring much needed resources to problems of international health, we highlight concerns regarding this new organizational format. Part II, which will be published in the May issue o f the Bulletin, presents a conceptual framework for analysing health GPPPs and explores the issues raised.