Europe Sees Mixed Results From Public-Private Partnerships For Building And Managing Health Care Facilities And Services
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Barlow, JG
Roehrich, J
Wright, S
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Prompted in part by constrained national budgets, European governments are increasingly partnering with the private sector to underwrite the costs of constructing and operating public hospitals and other health care facilities and delivering services. Through such public-private partnerships, governments hope to avoid up-front capital
expenditure and to harness private-sector efficiencies, while private-sector partners aim for a return on investment. Our research indicates that to date, experience with these partnerships has been mixed. Early models of
these partnerships—for example, in which a private firm builds a hospital and carries out building maintenance, which we term an
“accommodation-only” model—arguably have not met expectations for achieving greater efficiencies at lower costs. Newer models described in this article offer greater opportunities for efficiency gains but are
administratively harder to set up and manage. Given the shortages in public capital for new infrastructure, it seems likely that the
attractiveness of these partnerships to European governments will grow.
expenditure and to harness private-sector efficiencies, while private-sector partners aim for a return on investment. Our research indicates that to date, experience with these partnerships has been mixed. Early models of
these partnerships—for example, in which a private firm builds a hospital and carries out building maintenance, which we term an
“accommodation-only” model—arguably have not met expectations for achieving greater efficiencies at lower costs. Newer models described in this article offer greater opportunities for efficiency gains but are
administratively harder to set up and manage. Given the shortages in public capital for new infrastructure, it seems likely that the
attractiveness of these partnerships to European governments will grow.
Date Issued
2013
Citation
Health Affairs, 2013, 32 (1)
ISSN
0278-2715
Publisher
PROJECT HOPE
Start Page
146
End Page
154
Journal / Book Title
Health Affairs
Volume
32
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© Project Hope 2013
Identifier
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Publication Status
Accepted