About the Learning Exchange – This activity has concluded

Recent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and in maintaining essential health services heightened interest from countries in cross-border learning exchanges on the importance of engaging with the private sector. COVID-19 has thrown private sector engagement into stark relief. Those countries that had strong inclusive engagement with the private sector have been able to leverage them in their COVID-19 response. Many of those that didn’t are seeing predatory and corrupt behavior from the private sector that will only further erode trust between the two. Whether a help or a hindrance, COVID-19 has raised the reality of the need for a new approach to governance of mixed health systems.

The WHO’s Health Systems Governance and Financing Department (HSGF), which convenes the WHO Advisory Group on the Governance of the Private Sector for UHC, is leading WHO’s efforts to support countries in strengthening the governance in mixed health systems to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This work, supported by Impact for Health International, has involved framing the challenge, developing support, and guidance for countries based on best practice. The WHO and Impact for Health International facilitated this learning exchange with the JLN to explore additional private sector engagement topics prioritized by countries as being critical to current COVID-19 response and recovery.

Participating Countries

• Botswana
• Cambodia
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Myanmar
• Nigeria