Evidence-Based Public–Private Collaboration in the Health Sector

This working paper explores the potential for collaborative governance to contribute to economic recovery from COVID-19 in Asia. It emphasizes the importance of continuous decision-making by central and local governments regarding the provision of health services, from in-house population health services to purchasing care from non-state clinics and hospitals. The report highlights the central role of public-private cooperation in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the critical importance of building trust and credibility for successful collaboration. It concludes that investment in collaborative governance with guiding principles can enhance adjustment to the pandemic and resilient continuation of patient care during other unforeseen circumstances. The report also provides a conceptual framework for understanding trade-offs in public-private collaborative provision of social sector services, and discusses the importance of selecting a few vital long-term public-private collaborations for establishment of "relational contracts with guiding principles." The authors argue that public-private cooperation has been central in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that building trust and credibility are critical for successful collaboration.