The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Strengthening Healthcare Supply Chains

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly recognized as vital mechanisms for improving healthcare supply chains in low-resource settings.These partnerships bring together the strengths of the public sector-such as policy oversight and equity goals-with the private sector's efficiency, innovation, and logistical expertise.Healthcare supply chains in many low-and middle-income countries suffer from persistent challenges including inadequate infrastructure, fragmented delivery systems, funding shortfalls, and limited accountability.Through a structured literature review, this paper explores how PPPs can be leveraged to address these issues, with a focus on vaccine logistics and last-mile delivery.The paper discusses conceptual frameworks underpinning PPP models, identifies key operational strategies, and highlights examples from Nigeria, India, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal.These cases illustrate the impact of service contracts, digital tracking platforms, drone delivery systems, and informed push models in enhancing logistics performance.In addition to presenting the benefits of PPPs-including improved efficiency, accountability, and innovation-the paper also explores significant challenges such as regulatory gaps, donor dependency, and power asymmetries.Policy recommendations include the establishment of enabling legal frameworks, sustainable financing, stakeholder engagement, and robust monitoring systems.Overall, the findings support a strategic and evidence-based approach to PPPs as a pathway for strengthening healthcare logistics, particularly in environments constrained by resources and capacity limitations.