Specialty care systems: a pioneering vision for global health

Abstract

Successful health-sector reform in developing countries is built on sustainable service delivery models that meet reform goals while addressing community needs. When government efforts fall short, innovative private-sector solutions can offer more-efficient alternatives that provide care to impoverished populations. We identify organizations that use elements of a focused care approach to overcome barriers to delivering care in low-resource settings. Using the experience of the Aravind Eye Care System, we describe the essential elements of the specialty care model, its replication across countries, and the challenges to extending this model beyond eye care.