Engaging with the private health delivery sector in the response to Covid19: a plan of action

Engaging the Private Health Delivery Sector in the Response to the Covid-19: A Plan of Action 

WHO calls on national governments everywhere to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reducing the further spread of COVID-19 and mitigating its impact should be a top priority for Heads of State and Governments.

The response should be coordinated with actors in the private sector and civil society. In this context, WHO has developed a draft interim guidance called Engaging the Private Health Delivery Sector in the Response to the Covid-19: A Plan of Action to help governments with their efforts to engage the private sector as part of a whole of society response to the pandemic and also to support governments efforts to engage the private sector to help maintain essential health services. 

Authors: Ms Barbara O Hanlon, a member of the WHO Advisory Group on the governance of the private sector, Dr Mark Hellowell, Director of Global Health Policy Unit at the University of Edinburgh, Ms Cynthia Eldrige of Impact for Health and David Clarke of WHO HQ.  The following WHO staff also contributed to the preparation of this document, Dr Agnes Soucat, Dr Edward Kelley and Gerard Schmets all of WHO HQ.

The authors acknowledge inputs received from people working in affected countries in both the public and private health sectors their contribution and their contribution to the  COVID-19 response is greatly appreciated.

This document may not be reviewed, abstracted, quoted, reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated or adapted, in part or in whole, in any form or by any means without the permission of the World Health Organization. This draft is being published and distributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. The views expressed by authors, editors, or expert groups do not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the World Health Organization.

For more information on private sector engagement please see:

Public consutlation on the draft WHO roadmap to engage the private sector through integrated service delivery governance in mixed health systems. 

WHO Bulletin article: The private sector and universal health coverage

Primary health care conference: engaging the private sector