Health care services can be provided by public or private sectors. Health care service system in most nations is made up of both private and public health providers. Health care services can also be provided with an aim of making a profit or just for helping the community. Private hospitals and independent medical practitioners who are self-employed are examples of profit making health care providers. The objectives of private health care are different from those of public health (Besley and Gouveia, 1994). Public health care sector is a government sponsored system that provides health care services as a basic human right to its citizens. Public health care is financed by the taxation from the citizens. Therefore, access to health services is free while in private, patients cover their medical expenses. In UK for instance, 61% of physicians in the public sector serve in the private sector (Monopolies and Merger Commission, 1994).
Public sector is perceived to be for poor and vulnerable people in the community who may be sparely populated with geographical disparities. Private health care is said to be for those who can pay for services while the poor and vulnerable are ignored in such sectors. This service is also offered in centers that are densely populated for profit maximization. Public health sector is primarily concerned with preventive care and public health services such as immunization of children under age of 5 years. This sector has complex systems of hospitals where the centers for curative services are maintained regularly. On the other hand, private sector excludes or gives little attention to preventive care and public health services, and they give much emphasis on curative care services (World Bank, 2005).
Public sector has a challenge in managerial issues resulting into less innovation and flexibility because all the operations are dependent on the political and legislative direction. There is hierarchical bureaucracy dictated by accountability and responsibility hence not flexible. There is a conflict of interest by physicians in the public sector since they practice in private sectors. Private sector has a smaller management structure which makes it quick in making decisions and planning. Business and personal interests of physicians in this sector do not conflict since they have a common goal. This sector tent to be more innovate and flexible in service delivery.
Given that there is an indirect accountability in the public sector of customer satisfaction, there is little attention given to customers. Customer attention is remarkably high making them comfortable since they are directly answerable for customer satisfaction. However, private sector normally excludes the poorer and those that are seriously sick. Public sector is not flexible in terms of relocation since they have complex infrastructure while the private sector are flexible, through renting and leasing adjust to relocation issues. Since there is a hierarchical bureaucracy in the public sector, they do not respond to changes in the market, quickly unlike the private sector.
The debate about which health system is the best has been discussed at large by both supporters of private and public sectors. It may be noted that vest interest may be the driving force for opposing or accepting a given system (Smith, et al., 2009). For instance, private practitioners and nongovernment organization benefits from private health care while academics benefit from grants. I prefer private sector because it is efficient, reliable, and there is direct accountability although it is expensive compared to public.
Reference
Besley, T. and Gouveia, M. (1994). Alternative systems of health care provision, Economic Policy, 19: 200-258.
Smith, R, Feachem, R, Feachem NS, Koehlmoos, TP, Kinlaw, H (2009). The fallacy of impartiality: competing interest bias in academic publications. J R Soc Med 102: 44–45. doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2009.080400
Monopolies and Mergers Commission, (1994). Private Medical Services: A report on the agreements and practices relating to charges for the supply of private medical services by NHS consultants. Cm 2452.HMSO, London.
World Bank, (2005). Comparative advantages of public and private health care providers in Bangladesh. Dhaka: World Bank.
