Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Healthcare in Emerging Economies

Purpose The aim of the paper is to compare PPP healthcare investments in developed countries with those in emerging economies, analyzing the sustainability issues of health-led growth. Methodology / approach Healthcare PPP best practices in developed nations represent a template that catching up economies may follow with local adaptations. A comparison starts from the UK case and then examines the Turkish experience as an ideal bridge between advanced and developing countries. Findings Healthcare investments are a primary social infrastructure, with a deep impact on poverty alleviation. Demand for the infrastructure necessary to provide healthcare services has increased substantially in developing and emerging economies due to rapid economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, while public supply is limited by budget constraints. PPP best practices provide a global benchmark. Integrated supply and value chains and management of viability milestone improve healthcare PPP sustainability and bankability. Research limitations / implications Different legal frameworks and funding issues are not thoroughly investigated. Careful customization and local fine-tuning of best practices require further scrutiny. Practical implications Homogenization of best practices improves comparison of different projects, fostering competition and easing cross-border investments, accompanied by knowledge transfer, sharing, and consequent value co-creation. Social implications Best practices improve value for money, bankability and resilience of PPP investments, with potential benefits for healthcare services and quality of life. Originality / value of the paper This paper makes an innovative and comprehensive comparison of healthcare PPP projects around the world, looking for a common denominator of value-enhancing rules and resilient pro-growth strategies.