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Introduction to The Thematic Hub on Accountability of The Private Medical Sector
Today despite massive growth of the private medical sector across the world including LMICs, and major social evidence of the negative consequences of market failure, regulation of private medical sector remains patchy and weak in most LMICs. Despite large scale dissatisfaction related to malpractices, unethical practices, overcharging, and violation of patients’ rights, movements around these issues are often non-existent or very small. Hence there is urgent need for a platform which would help develop the discourse on accountability of the private medical sector through involvement of activists and practitioners, along with facilitating exchange of experiences and perspectives.
Given this context the COPASAH thematic hub on “Patients’ rights and private medical sector accountability” would strive to develop a conceptual discourse and evolving framework for social accountability of the private medical sector, keeping in view the context of LMICs esp. in South Asia. The hub would promote networking among civil society organisations and networks on issues related to private health sector regulation and patient's rights, with a focus on South Asia. These efforts would support and complement existing networks like the People’s Health Movement. The thematic hub will engage in relevant knowledge generation through publication of papers and policy briefs. It is expected that this hub would help to orient and activists and civil society members, enabling them to raise key issues related to the private healthcare sector, in inform health the spirit of accountability and rights.
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