Human resources for health
Public-private partnerships to build human capacity in low income countries: findings from the Pfizer program
Providing technical assistance to improve health systems in developing countries.
Authors:
T. Vian; S. C. Richards; K. McCoy
Publisher:
Human Resources for Health, 2007
This article, published in Human Resources for Health, evaluates an approach to public-private partnership whereby corporate volunteers provide technical assistance to improve organisational and staff performance in the health sector in developing countries. From 2003-2005, the Pfizer Global Health Fellows programme sent employees to work with organisations in 19 countries. The article finds that over three-quarters of Fellows appear to have imparted skills or enhanced operations of NGOs in HIV and AIDS and other health programmes. Partners organisation staff reported that the Fellows provided training to clinical and research personnel; strengthened laboratory, pharmacy, financial control, and human resource management systems; and helped expand partner organisation websites.
The paper concludes that public expectations have grown regarding the role corporations should play in improving health systems in developing countries. Through technical assistance, corporate programmes can help build the organisational and human capacity of frontline agencies delivering health services. The authors recommend that more attention is needed to measure and compare outcomes of international volunteering programmes, and to identify appropriate strategies for expansion. [adapted from author]
