In Afghanistan, there are four units/departments overseeing the work of the private sector in health. On 14 September 2022 a four-hour virtual workshop took place, in order to: enhance inter-departmental coordination; ensure effective engagement of private providers in service delivery; and share WHO’s approach to engaging the private sector in health. This workshop was conducted in collaboration across all three levels of the World Health Organization (WHO), which included WHO Country Office of Afghanistan, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern-Mediterranean and WHO Headquarters. The workshop was facilitated virtually by Impact for Health International (IHI). The workshop covered several topics, which included: • The role and contribution of private providers to service delivery in the country; • The role of governments in governing the private sector in health; • The process of conducting public-private dialogue and key considerations of the process; • The principles for effective engagement of the private sector in health and the different forms of such engagement; • Public-private partnerships as a form of engagement, including its risks, benefits and prerequisites; • Success stories and lessons learned from private sector engagement (PSE) activities in the region and other similar contexts; • Relevant WHO technical resources. A total of 22 participants from four MOH departments attended the workshop in-person. The participants included representatives from: the public-private partnerships unit; the private sector coordination department; the private sector regulation department; and the private health sector, Health Information Systems unit. The workshop included interventions from: • Dr. Ajab Gul Niaz, Health Rules and Compliance Directorate, MOPH • Dr Hala Abou Taleb, Regional Adviser a.i. , Health System Governance, WHO/EMRO • Gabrielle Appleford, Consultant, WHO/HQ • David Clarke, Unit Head a.i., Health System’s Governance and Policy, WHO/HQ • Aya Thabet, Private Sector Engagement Consultant, WHO/EMRO • Dr Walid Ammar, Director of Doctorate and Research, Public Health Programme, Université St Joseph Beyrouth • Dr Faraz Khalid, Technical Officer, WHO/EMRO File(s) Strengthening private sector engagement in fragile contexts (1.9 MB - PDF) Download Importance of private health sector governance in the health system (strategic and operational policies) (568.7 KB - PDF) Download Introducing the Model of Care initiative and foreseen ways of engaging private providers as part of the initiative (1.8 MB - PDF) Download Orientation on Public Private Partnership (972.4 KB - PDF) Download Outline of a national PSE strategic framework and its role in achieving the overall vision, goals, and objectives of the HS (1.7 MB - PDF) Download Public-private dialogue process and key considerations (1.2 MB - PDF) Download Strengthening private sector engagement in health in Afghanistan Key messages (193.8 KB - PDF) Download The role and importance of private providers in health service delivery and their contribution to health system strengthening in Afghanistan (833.2 KB - PDF) Download Overview Research category Health Policy Programme area Others Type Workshop Modality Hybrid Fees Free
