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Review
. 2024 Apr-Jun;12(2):125-133.
doi: 10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_510_23. Epub 2024 Apr 5.

Impact of Privatization on Healthcare System: A Systematic Review

Tareq M Alayed  1 , Assem S Alrumeh  2 , Ibrahim A Alkanhal  3 , Raghad T Alhuthil  4
Affiliations
Review

Impact of Privatization on Healthcare System: A Systematic Review

Tareq M Alayed et al. Saudi J Med Med Sci. 2024 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: A notable shift in healthcare policy is healthcare privatization, which refers to the transfer of ownership, management, or provision of healthcare services from the public sector to private entities.

Objectives: To provide a narrative examination of the impact of privatization on various dimensions of healthcare, including quality, equity, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. Policymakers can utilize the findings of this study to make well-informed decisions regarding privatization strategies.

Materials and methods: A systematic review was implemented using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies conducted from January 2000 to January 2023 in developing or developed countries that assessed the impact of healthcare privatization on population health within public sector institutions were included.

Results: Eleven studies were included. The findings revealed diverse perspectives on the impact of healthcare privatization, with four studies (36.4%) supporting privatization (two of these were conducted in Saudi Arabia), six studies (54.5%) opposing it (three of these were conducted in European countries), and one study (9.1%) taking a neutral stance. Two studies investigated the impact on healthcare quality, and both revealed that privatization negatively impacts uninsured patients and low-income populations. In addition, five studies investigated the healthcare access and equity dimensions following privatization: one was in favor, one was neutral, and three were opposing it. Four studies investigated the cost-effectiveness dimension, with three in favor and one study opposing it.

Conclusion: This review highlights different perspectives on healthcare privatization. While studies, as those from Saudi Arabia, suggest benefits in terms of efficiency and innovation, others, particularly from European countries, emphasize negative consequences such as inequity and reduced quality. This emphasizes the need for more investigations to understand privatization's impact on healthcare.

Keywords: Access to care; healthcare; healthcare delivery; impact; private sector; privatization; quality of health care; system.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The PRISMA flow diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a systematic review
Figure 2
Figure 2
Categorization of the included studies’ conclusion toward healthcare privatization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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