Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the better health services in Tanzania.



The Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) organized the Public Private Partnership (PPP) forum for Kilimanjaro region to assess the current developments on partnership between Government and FBOs in delivering health services in Kilimanjaro as well as to work out and agree on the strategies for strengthening PPP in the region.



The two days meeting was held at Kilimanjaro Crane Hotel whereby participants from FBO Institutions, government health facilities and the District Executive Directors (DED) attended the meeting.



Addressing the participants, the Representative from Ministry of health and social walfare (MOHSW) Dr.Obeline Kisanga who is also a member of PPP steering committee said, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a contractual agreement between a public agency (federal, state or local) and a private sector entity.



Through collaboration, the skills and assets of each sector (public and private) are shared in delivering a service or facility-of common goal- for the use of the general public. In addition to the sharing of resources, each party shares in the risks and rewards potential in the delivery of the service.



Addressing the participants, CSSC policy analyst Dr.Godwin Ndamugoba said collaboration (PPP) would help to provide reliable treatment for many rural populations where the government has no hospital.



According to Dr.Ndamugoba, the government saw the importance of creating the partnership because it believed that it could reach many Tanzanians, as most of church health facilities are situated in rural areas where over 77 percent of Tanzanians live.     



Initially, the assistant Regional Administrative Secretary Mrs. Ruth Malisa in her opening speech she acknowledged the contribution of the private sector in health services provision. She said, PPP is the relationship which requires trust, mutual respect and equity between the parties, therefore there is a need for both parties to be trustworthy, transparent based on mutual trust and respect and well defined policies.



She disclosed that, general the PPP meetings are very important because they keeps reminding the government of its roles in supporting PPP process at various levels and increase participation of the private sector in achieving access to health services at all levels.



One of the benefits of PPP is allow the private providers of health services to receive Government funds to implement the government intention to protect the vulnerable (under-fives, pregnant women and the poor).



At the moment in Kilimanjaro region there are 9 hospitals, 5 health centre and 68 dispensaries of FBOs, and some of the health facilities which have already signed agreement for partnership are; Mawenzi regional hospital with St. Joseph hospital, Machame hospital with hai district and  Himo health centre with Moshi  rural district