It is generally understood that the State has a responsibility for ensuring the health of its people. The State often meets this obligation through a combination of the following: the provision of direct health services, health insurance coverage, or subsidized services and medicines. In many developed countries, the role of the public health system is complemented by recognized private sector organizations (social marketing groups, nongovernmental organizations, and commercial providers). However, in many developing countries the public sector is the dominant provider of health services, with non-public actors playing undervalued and sometimes marginal roles. Relationships between the public and private sectors are sometimes characterized by friction, mistrust, and mutual suspicion. This workstream aims to define and clarify the complementary roles of the public and non-public sectors in contributing to national efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health – thus improving collaboration between sectors. It is hoped that collaboration will lead to more efficient use of in-country resources, and, ultimately, expanded and improved service provision for the client.

The workstream:

• supports the stewardship role of government in ensuring health of the whole population;
• recognizes the significant role of the non-public sector in health service provision; and
• seeks to promote enhanced cooperation and collaboration between the public and non-public sectors.

The primary activities under this workstream are the Total Market Initiative and developing data sources for advocacy of market development approaches.