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Improving iSC performance through outsourcing – Considerations for using third-party service providers to increase innovation, capacity and efficiency

Tuesday, 4th of April 2017

Abstract below; full text is at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X17301214

Vaccine

Volume 35, Issue 17, 19 April 2017, Pages 2195–2197

 

Improving iSC performance through outsourcing – Considerations for using third-party service providers to increase innovation, capacity and efficiency ^☆

• Martin Wright^a, 
• Gary Forster^a, 
• John Beale^b, , 
• ^aTransaid, 137 Euston Road, London NW1 2AA, United Kingdom
• ^b VillageReach, 2900 Eastlake Ave. E., Suite 230, Seattle WA 98102, USA

Available online 30 March 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.11.108

Get rights and content

Under a Creative Commons license

  Open Access

Highlights

• Trends driving outsourcing in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Opportunities for engaging the private sector in health.

• Key considerations for outsourcing: benefits and risks.

• Optimal private sector conditions to engage with the public sector.

Abstract

Development partners and donors have encouraged and incentivized governments in developing countries to explore ways of working with third-party service suppliers to reduce costs and increase service delivery capacity. The distribution of vaccines and medicines has for a long time shown demand for outsourcing but public health systems have struggled to develop the expertise and capital assets necessary to manage such ventures.

Existing transport and logistics capacity within public health systems, in particular, is well documented as being insufficient to support existing, let alone future immunization needs. Today, a number of countries are contracting party logistics providers (3PLs) to supplement the in-house distribution operations of public health systems. This commentary reflects on recent, leading examples of outsourcing initiatives to address critical gaps in transport and logistics.