In their recent publication in The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Shehla Zaidi, A. Venkat Raman, Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury, Farooq Azam, and Priya Balasubramanium examine the evolution and implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in primary healthcare across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The article provides a nuanced, process-based analysis of how PPPs have developed in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh‘s mixed health systems, drawing attention to both their achievements and enduring challenges.
The authors explore how PPPs have emerged organically in response to local needs—ranging from diagnostic services to urban primary care—and how these partnerships have expanded through sub-national initiatives and cross-regional learning. While innovations and service volumes have grown, issues like accountability imbalances, trust deficits, and fragmented implementation remain. The article advocates for a contextual, adaptive approach grounded in local realities and supported by long-term capacity-building, moving beyond project-based donor models toward sustainable public sector stewardship.