Seamless public-private partnership (PPP) in health sector will be the backbone of economic growth in the years ahead, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said at an event on healthcare here on Thursday,

 “The PPP must combine the high standards of quality and efficiency with accountability, equity and transparency,” he said.

Arguing in favour of the private pratner he said, the private sector brought in with it the much needed man power and skilled HR, therefore there was no escaping theneed to build the partnership.

 “We have to create a win-win situation for the private and the public sector by keeping in mind governance, human resources, quality and affordability to put a model which can be replicated anywhere in the country,” he said.

Citing  the examples of healthcare reforms in states like  Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka he said , “It is only a tool for augmenting health care.”

Adding a caveat,  he said that PPP will not mean "privatisation of the health ministry.”

He also raised question mark on the differences between public and private sector on clientele, approach, resource and infrastructure.

Advocating PPP, lead health specialist of the World Bank Jerry La Forgia said, “PPP can be achieved by increasing access, reducing costs and improving quality.”

Bhavdeep Singh, CEO, Fortis healthcare concluded the session saying The PPP policy must have the mix match of the social agenda of the public sector and the profit agenda of the private sector.”