The Role of the Private Sector in Canadian Healthcare
Private-public partnerships are just what the healthcare system needs
This discussion paper argues that there is room in Canadian healthcare for the private sector that does not impede the goals of social justice or fairness. “In fact, the reverse is likely true: the involvement of the private sector in the right places in the system can promote access and equity by adding financing, resource capacity, expertise, innovation, institutional learning, and reputation enhancement.”
The author discusses the role the private sector now plays in Canadian healthcare. He outlines different forms of partnership that are applicable to healthcare and proposes a collaborative governance model that could provide oversight of public private-partnerships that respects and promotes the democratic obligations of governments to exercise oversight in the healthcare system. Finally, he makes a case for considering strategic alliances as a key form of partnership between the public and private sectors.
The paper was prepared by Scott Carson, director (2011-2015) of The Monieson Centre for Business Research in Healthcare at Smith School of Business, Queen's University.