PSP-One and WHO Hold Joint Technical Consultation Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland

PSP-One and the World Health Organization (WHO) held a joint Technical Consultation Meeting entitled “Public Policy and Reproductive Health Franchising: Current Evidence and Future Directions” at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The three day meeting brought together members of the donor community including USAID, the World Bank and the Department for International Development (DFID), as well as government officials, franchise program managers, and academics to discuss the current status of private provider networks that provide RH/FP services and address the ways public policy can support them. The diverse group of participants examined such questions as:

• Have franchises made an impact on coverage and access to RH/FP and other health services in the private sector?
• Are there examples of franchises that have achieved financial sustainability, while also expanding access to RH/FP services?
• How can equity in access be achieved in a franchised network?
• What is the role of commercial franchises and what mechanisms can be used to engage these networks in meeting public health needs?
• What elements contribute to the development and introduction of policies that facilitate quality of care and equity in the private sector in general and franchises specifically?

The Guidance Note was released in 2007 resulting from the discussions held during the meeting, providing direction on public policy development to support RH/FP and other health services delivery through private health franchises.

You may visit the conference website at (www.who.int/reproductive-health/tcc/meeting06.htm)