Blind Optimism: Challenging the myths about private health care in poor countries
The realization of the right to health for millions of people in poor countries depends upon a massive increase in health services to achieve universal and equitable access. A growing number of international donors are promoting an expansion of private-sector
health-care delivery to fulfil this goal. The private sector can play a role in health care. But this paper shows there is an urgent need to reassess the arguments used in favour of scaling-up private-sector
provision in poor countries. The evidence shows that prioritizing this approach is extremely unlikely to deliver health for poor people. Governments and rich country donors must strengthen state capacities
to regulate and focus on the rapid expansion of free publicly provided health care, a proven way to save millions of lives worldwide.
Aid donors and the World Bank are wasting money and
risking lives by pushing unproven and discredited private healthcare programs
in developing countries, international agency Oxfam
said. Oxfam's warning comes in a new report, 'Blind Optimism: Challenging
the myths about private health care in poor countries.
Anna Marriott, author of the report, said: 'Donors
hold romantic views of private sector health providers despite considerable evidence of their poor performance
globally. For the most part, private health care in poor countries is made up
of unqualified shopkeepers selling out-of-date medicines. Would you want that for
your sick baby?
Publication Date:
12 February 2009 
