Collaboration in a Partnership for Primary Health Care: A Case Study From Papua New Guinea

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Health Systems Research
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are frequently utilized in low- and middle-income countries to enhance primary health care (PHC) delivery.
• This study examines a corporate social responsibility initiative in Papua New Guinea that employed a PPP model to strengthen PHC services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the collaborative processes within a specific public-private partnership for primary health care.
• To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of collaboration in PPPs for PHC.
• To assess the utility of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) in understanding and managing PPP dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews with 20 stakeholders involved in the PPP.
• Review of key program documents.
• Data analysis using a general inductive approach, framed by Actor-Network Theory (ANT).

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: interpersonal relationships accelerate collaboration, collaboration requires time, formal governance structures encourage collaboration, and internal changes disrupt collaboration.
• Actor-Network Theory proved effective in conceptualizing complex actor dynamics within the PPP.
• Insights were gained into improving the design and management of PPPs for more effective PHC delivery.

Conclusions:

• Effective collaboration is fundamental to the success of PPPs in primary health care.
• Collaboration is influenced by the interplay of actors, relationships, time, and governance structures.
• Actor-Network Theory offers a valuable framework for designing, understanding, and managing diverse stakeholder relationships in PPPs.