How private health care can help Africa

 
A study of sub-Saharan Africa's health care sector finds that the private sector plays a significant-and growing-role in meeting Africa's health care needs.

The increasing demand could translate into $20 billion of additional investment to the region's private-sector health care infrastructure over the coming decade.

Health care provision will account for half of the total investment opportunity, with the remainder divided among distribution and retailing, pharmaceuticals and medical-product manufacturing, risk pooling, and medical education.

Private-sector shortcomings-such as inconsistent quality of care, unethical business practices, and inadequate regulatory frameworks-must be addressed if the private sector is to most effectively benefit the health of Africa's people.