Screening & diagnostics

1.4 Private sector

The private sector can play a vital role in delivering prenatal and postnatal screening and diagnostic services by driving innovation, increasing access, and providing specialized care that complements public health systems. Through research and development, private companies introduce cutting-edge technologies which offer safe and more accurate screening. In many countries, especially low- and middle-income ones, private providers are a significant source of maternal and newborn health services, filling gaps where public systems are under-resourced. This involvement helps to improve patient choice, reduce wait times, and enhance the overall quality and experience of care, particularly for those who can afford it.

Specific roles and contributions of the private sector in delivering screening and diagnostics include:

• Technological Innovation and Development: The private sector is the primary driver behind the development of advanced diagnostic technologies. The availability of digital health tools has dramatically transformed the screening and diagnostics landscape.
• Specialized and High-Quality Care: Private hospitals and clinics often provide a more personalized, consistent, and patient-centred experience.
• Filling Service Gaps: In many parts of the world, the private sector, including both formal and informal providers, delivers a substantial portion of services and help to increase overall coverage and access to critical services.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Partnerships between the private and public sectors are crucial for scaling up services and improving quality. Such collaborations can help ensure that private-sector innovation and efficiency benefit a wider population.
• Investment and Funding: Private companies can provide significant investment to support research and to develop new programmes.

More detail is provided below to highlight key screening and diagnostic services, with innovation and future potential developments covered in the following chapter on innovation. The information here is a narrative and is not intended to cover all screening and diagnostic services in an exhaustive manner.