Supporting Member States in reaching informed decision-making on engaging with private sector entities for NCD prevention and control: launch of the new practical tool

Effectively responding to the global burden of noncommunicable diseases and the related health equity challenges requires meaningful engagement with different stakeholders, including with the private sector. Yet, in many countries capacities of the health sector to engage with the private sector remain limited, and identifying, managing or mitigating risks including conflicts of interest to safeguard public health poses challenges. A new practical tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) guides governments through making informed decisions before engaging with private sector entities.

While any partnership holds its opportunities and risks, recognizing and addressing the negative impact of commercial determinants of health arising from business practices, products or services is particularly challenging in public-private engagements designed to support NCD prevention and control.

Knowledge

Supporting member states in reaching informed decision-making on engaging with private sector entities for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: a practical tool

The new Decision-making tool offers health authorities, government actors and other relevant organizations a systematic methodology for assessing, analysing and reaching a decision on whether or not to engage with private sector entities to complement or enhance efforts of the public sector. Built around three principles guiding private sector engagement – sustainable and responsible practices, added value to the NCD response, and accountable and transparent governance – the tool helps user to explore potential engagements, while safeguarding public health from undue influence and conflicts of interest.

At the heart of the Decision-making tool is a ten-step process that guides users from across diverse contexts and throughout the different engagement phases, spanning from planning and implementing to monitoring and evaluating, to make informed decisions about private sector collaboration. The tool also includes a questionnaire and decision-aid matrix, available in both print and interactive digital formats. Working through each step and answering respective questions, health authorities can gradually build an understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with an engagement and the required capacities for engaging with private sector entities.

The Decision-making tool was developed by WHO’s Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs (GCM/NCD) in close collaboration with experts and civil society organizations, and was user-tested in dedicated country workshops in Botswana, India, Jordan and Moldova.

Following the publication of the Decision-making tool, the GCM/NCD is looking to organise implementation workshops, supporting NCD focal points at national and sub-national levels to adopt the tool for decision-making. Data sourced through the use of the tool and lessons from the workshops will be documented to gather further evidence on effectively using the tool for improved NCD prevention and control policies and programmes.