HRH Global Resource Center - Contracting

Strengthening District Health Service Management and Delivery through Internal Contracting: Lessons from Pilot Projects in Cambodia

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 16:05:38 +0000

This study assesses the internal contracting, an approach where contractors work within the ministry of health but do not hire or fire health workers, as a means for improving the management of district health services and strengthening service delivery. [adapted from author]

Contracting in Specialists for Emergency Obstetric Care: Does it Work in Rural India?

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:57:08 +0000

Contracting in private sector is promoted in developing countries facing human resources shortages as a challenge to reduce maternal mortality. This study explored provision, practice, performance, barriers to execution and views about contracting in specialists for emergency obstetric care in rural India. [from abstract]

Achieving the Twin Objectives of Efficiency and Equity: Contracting Health Services in Cambodia

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:40:56 +0000

The Cambodian experience of contracting out for health workers discussed in this document suggests how a move away from the traditional government-provided health services model to government-financed and monitored contracts for health services can be an effective approach to expand coverage especially for the low-income groups. [adapted from author]

Filling the Gap: Lessons for Policymakers and Donors on Contracting Out Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:32:41 +0000

Focusing on the demand-side (governments and donors) of contracting out with the private sector, the primer describes the concept of contracting out, discusses its rationale and process, and summarizes three cases of contracting out programs. [from summary]

Addressing the Need: Lessons for Service Delivery Organizations on Delivering Contracted-Out Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:28:34 +0000

This primer aims to provide clear lessons and recommendations to help service delivery organizations
and program managers establish, implement, and strengthen contracting arrangements. The primer draws on Marie
Stopes International’s experience of delivering government-contracted services in Bangladesh, India, and South
Africa. [from summary]

Performance Incentives in Provider Purchasing and Contracting Arrangements: Rationale and Experiences

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:23:51 +0000

The paper describes performance-based incentive contracting schemes that have been implemented to improve results for a range of interventions from time-limited immunizations to chronic conditions that require significant lifestyle changes, such as diabetes. It argues that performance incentives are a viable and potentially more powerful solution than typical inputoriented approaches to dealing with underutilization, poor quality, and low efficiency. [from publisher]

Provider Purchasing and Contracting Mechanisms

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:17:57 +0000

The paper reviews various purchasing models and the advantages each offers for purchasing from the private sector. It then identifies the key challenges to successful implementation of these models, and discusses improvements needed in the contracting mechanism itself. It determines that the purchasing mechanism can create new incentives for providers, payers, and consumers on a national scale, but it may require that changes be made in the health sector as a whole for new programs to be successful. [from publisher]

Provider Purchasing and Contracting for Health Services: The Case of Zambia

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:13:33 +0000

The objective of this study was to identify and characterize contracting models that have existed in the Zambian health sector and their consequences on access to health care. The study was aimed at assessing the extent to which the identified contracting models have been successful in achieving their intended goals and at determining their potential to be scaled up to the entire health sector, including the private sector. [from summary]

Difficult Relationship Between Faith-Based Health Care Organisations and the Public Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Contracting Experiences in Cameroon, Tanzania, Chad and Uganda

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:04:45 +0000

This book presents the principal findings of a study on contractual arrangements between faith-based hospitals and public health authorities in four sub-Saharan African countries.

Effectiveness of Contracting-Out Primary Health Care Services in Developing Countries: a Review of the Evidence

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:35:45 +0000

The purpose of this study is to review the research literature on the effectiveness of contracting-out of primary health care services and its impact on both program and health systems performance in low- and middle-income countries. [from abstract]