Tomorrow: Leveraging the Private Sector to Strengthen Maternal Health

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Join us tomorrow, Thursday, September 17th, from 3:30 – 5 pm EST at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. and online for the policy dialogue, Leveraging the Private Sector to Strengthen Maternal Health, which will discuss the expanding role of the private sector in countries with the poorest maternal health outcomes.

Private providers of maternal health care include individuals such as midwives and physicians as well as businesses such as pharmacies. Often, private health providers are integrated in the communities they serve, making them very accessible to poor populations in countries with over-burdened public health systems.

The private sector presents valuable opportunities for maternal health care due to its ability to fill gaps in the public sector and reach the most underserved portions of the population. Yet, there is very little data or dialogue on the costs, challenges, quality, and full potential of the private sector. This panel will discuss the overlooked role of private maternal health providers, the capacity of the private sector to strengthen maternal health, and the question of quality of care differences between private and public providers. Panelists will also highlight health market innovations and public-private partnerships that have harnessed the strengths of both sectors in low- and middle-income countries.

Speakers include

  • Dr. Priya AgrawalExecutive Director, Merck for Mothers, Merck & Company, Inc.

  • Sandeep BathalaSenior Program Associate, Environmental Change and Security Program, Maternal Health Initiative

  • Karl HofmannPresident and CEO, Population Services International

  • Gina LagomarsinoChief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Results for Development