The Implementation of Public Private Partnership in Public Health Sector in Isiolo Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The public health sector has overtime been unable to effectively provide the badly needed health care to the public on its own owing to lack of resources and management challenges. The promise of universal coverage of health services financed through tax revenue has proved untenable in the face of increase in demand for quality health services and other competing demand for the same revenue. The need for properly structured and executed Public Private Partnership (PPP) has become a necessity. There has been growing concern that despite much presence and effort by public and private health actors over the years, nationally and in Isiolo Sub County, a number of health indicators are either on downward trend or have stagnated. Isiolo County is ranked 5th highest maternal mortality in the country. This has put to question how PPP in health sector has been conceived, structured, regulated and coordinated. The aim of this research was to establish factors influencing implementation of public private partnership in health sector in Isiolo Sub County, of Isiolo County. Specific objectives were to determine the influence of existing policy framework, coordination mechanism, training on implementation of PPP in health care in Isiolo Sub County. The study adapted a mixed research design. Census was used to include 30 respondents who included hospital administrations program coordinators in non-governmental organizations. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential analysis was done using SPSS. The results indicated that existing policy framework, coordination mechanisms, training, and information sharing had positive and significant effect on implementation of PPP public private partnership in the health sector in Isiolo Sub-County. The study concluded that an improvement in policy framework, training on PPP, information sharing among stakeholders and coordination mechanisms would lead to an implementation of PPP in the health sector. The study recommends that the government of Kenya and policy makers should initiate a thorough review of existing policies and laws related to PPPs in Kenya's health sector. In addition, the government of Kenya should organize workshops and training sessions specifically designed to educate stakeholders on partnership agreements. Kenya's health sector management should encourage a participatory approach by involving important public and commercial sector partners, civil society organizations, and local communities.