Public-private partnership for a more responsive family health program in cavite, Philippines

This case study examines the development of Cavite Province's health sector approach to family planning, maternal and child health services in a decentralized setting. From sole management of public health, the Provincial Health Office, with the support of USAID, moved to engagement of private providers in 46 workplaces, establishing the Cavite Coordinating Council on Family Health Workplace Taskforce. The Council included government agencies, private businesses, professional associations and private healthcare providers. The council's role was expanded in 2008, creating programs for training, hospital-based family planning, maternal health facilities, abortion prevention, STD/AIDS and cervical cancer prevention. In 2010, the Provincial Health Office established coordinating mechanisms through Inter-Local Health Zones (involving 3-4 contiguous localities per zone) to operationalize maternal and child health programs program through public-private partnership building, policy development, local program planning and capacity building of public and private providers. The Provincial Health Office further organized a public-private, multi-level, multi-facility health referral system to address the needs of workers and their communities. In 2012, a public-private partnership agreement was signed among public sector agencies and 46 private companies, representing 34,300 workers, formalizing their commitment to invest resources to improve family planning and maternal and child health status. Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Office further strengthened partnerships among health providers, identifying birthing homes and hospitals as referral health facilities in the province. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of sector-wide approaches to maternal and child services through public-private partnership resulting in increasing key maternal health and family planning indicators.