The private sector in health service delivery: an operational definition

Overview

This brief outlines an operational definition of the private sector in health service delivery, developed in collaboration with the WHO's Technical Advisory Group on the Governance of the Private Sector for Universal Health Coverage. The absence of a common definition was recognized as a challenge, potentially leading to an underestimation of the private health sector's impact on health systems. The private sector encompasses various subcomponents, including direct provision of health care, management of health care institutions, manufacturing of health care goods, and financing of health care. The focus of this definition is on private sector entities involved in service delivery.