Public-private partnerships: an overview

Abstract

The development and marketing of medicines needed specifically to combat diseases of the developing world are commercially unattractive because the populations concerned are among the poorest on earth. Partnerships which bring together pharmaceutical companies, academics, not-for-profit organizations, philanthropists, governmental and inter-governmental agencies are an increasingly popular solution. These partnerships result in a complementarity of skills and resources that can accelerate the development and delivery of new medicines to those in need. Over the last 10 years or so, these public-private partnerships (PPPs) have grown significantly in number and diversity. However, they tend to cluster into two main groups: those dealing with product development (PD PPPs), and those concerned with improving the access of new medicines to target populations (Access PPPs). The Initiative on Public-Private Partnerships for Health was set up four years ago to monitor the performance of these new partnerships. After a series of studies of Access PPPs, it concluded that they provide significant benefits with very few side effects, particularly in the case of tropical diseases.

Eliminating canine rabies: The role of public–private partnerships

“…Such partnershi ps can be highly effective in unlocking resources to reduce the burden of neglected tropical diseases (WHO, 2002;Widdus, 2005, and see Table 1). However , questions have been raised about the role of such partnership s in global health (Reich, 2000;WHO, 2012b), especially regarding problems that can arise from the blurring of traditional distinctions between public and private sector responsib ilities and their individual aims (Buse and Walt, 2000a ).…”

Public–private partnership as a solution for integrating genetic services into health care of countries with low and middle incomes

“…The majority of these products are perceived as necessary by the public sector and are designated for support through public investment (Widdus and White 2004). They frequently do not reach the market because the industry recognises that the financial yield will not justify the necessary investment (Widdus 2005). Their discovery and development are withheld and not made available (Kettler et al 2003).…”

The Indian And Chinese Health Biotechnology Industries: Potential Champions Of Global Health?

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