Private sector participation (PSP) in healthcare within Gulf Cooperation Council settings: a systematic scoping review

Thesis

Background

Private sector participation (PSP) in healthcare has become crucial for healthcare reform in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, aiming to enhance healthcare and ease funding burden on governments. However, there is limited evidence on the specific details and impact of healthcare PSP in GCC settings. This scoping review aimed to explore types of implemented and upcoming healthcare PSP initiatives in GCC and assess their impact on healthcare within GCC settings.

Methods

The review was guided by the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and other grey literature sources, including information from websites of GCC government entities and International organizations. The inclusion criteria encompassed records that were published after 2009 in English, and addressed PSP in healthcare within GCC countries. Data was charted, and findings were summarized descriptively using emergent themes wherever possible. Informal consultations were held with industry experts to enrich the results.

Results

Out of a total of 890 identified records, 25 records were included within the final review. Records indicated four key types of PSP initiatives in healthcare within GCC which included public-private partnerships, contractual agreements, outsourcing and privatization. Amongst the types, 45 distinct initiatives were identified with public-private partnerships being the most utilized type of healthcare PSP initiatives. Few records indicated a positive impact of PSP in healthcare notably on access, quality and service efficiency, outcomes and patient satisfaction. However, there was a notable lack of studies addressing the long-term impact of PSP on healthcare across GCC.

Conclusion

To ensure sustainability, it is essential to conduct thorough studies on the long-term impact of healthcare PSP initiatives within GCC. Policymakers can utilize findings from this novel review to enhance their comprehension pertaining to healthcare PSP initiatives and strengthen ongoing healthcare PSP strategies in GCC settings.

Authors: Akbari, M

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-7rdzv4n28
• Type of award: MSc
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Oman; Kuwait; PPPs; privatization; UAE; outsourcing; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; healthcare; private sector participation; public-private partnerships; Gulf Cooperation Council; Qatar; health; Bahrain; health system delivery
• Subjects: Oman; Kuwait; Public-Private Partnerships; Privatization; Public-private sector cooperation; Strategic alliances (Business); Health care reform; United Arab Emirates; Contracting out; Government; Gulf Cooperation Council; Qatar; Health; Bahrain; Saudi Arabia