GOVERNMENTS need to be open to private sector help in implementing immunization programs, as well as in producing vaccines, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.
鈥淭he private sector brings in efficiency, and frankly in my experience as a government minister, efficiency is not number one in (the government鈥檚) DNA. I think it should be a partnership, where the goals and the profits 鈥 the return on investment 鈥 are very, very clearly defined,鈥 Mr. Dominguez said during the Asian Development Bank鈥檚 (ADB) 54th annual meeting.
He said such an approach will ensure a more efficient rollout of vaccines as the private sector brings in its expertise while the government serves as regulator and moderator in case companies start prioritizing profit over the program鈥檚 main objectives.
He had also called on for a stronger cooperation between the ADB and Southeast Asia in boosting the region鈥檚 capacity to manufacture vaccines.
Nirmala Sitharaman, India鈥檚 Minister of Finance, concurred, saying at the meeting that the Indian government and the private sector have worked closely in boosting the country鈥檚 supply of vaccines and healthcare capacity.
In a blog post Tuesday, experts from the World Bank and World Health Organization said an 鈥渆fficient and equitable vaccine rollout鈥 will need the private sector鈥檚 involvement as it can supply services that governments do not have the capacity for, can expand the program鈥檚 reach to remote areas, bring down costs, ensure that the supply chains are flowing, and expand vaccine supply.
However, they warned that poor cooperation between governments and the private sector, conflicts of interest, gaps in regulation, and low-quality services could emerge as potential challenges.
鈥淓ngaging and integrating the private health sector is a challenge, but countries should not shy away from it. Effective governance is not a choice 鈥 it is a necessity to overcome bottlenecks and guarantee a rapid, safe and equitable delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine,鈥 according to the blog post.
In the Philippines, private companies were allowed to import their own vaccines through tripartite agreements with the government and drug manufacturers. 鈥 Beatrice M. Laforga
