Role of private sector in family planning programme in Rajasthan, India - a rapid assessment

Abstract

Background: Traditionally for family planning services, more reliance is on public facilities, but recently due to growing recognition and well-placed private provider networks private sector can also add in significantly.   In order to assess how each of these sectors performs and what could be the future role of private sector, a study was planned to identify and understand the role of private institutions in providing family planning services in major cities of Rajasthan.

Methods: Looking to the existence of private partners, total 5 bigger districts (Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Kota & Udaipur) were selected. Out of these districts, 114 sample size was taken which includes registered, non-registered hospitals and Outlets and 50 official CM&HOs/Ad/Dy/CM&HO (FW) of the respective districts and officials from NGO partners, were interviewed.

Results: Out of 76 hospitals visited (38 registered and 38 non registered) approx 90% of the hospitals were conducting deliveries and providing family planning services to the clients. As per 50% (19) of the registered and 74 % (28) non registered hospitals their services are demand based. Only 24% (9) registered and 11% (4) nonregistered organizing family planning camps and most of the camps were organized within the facility.  Among facilities only 22 (58%) registered & 10 (26%) non registered were aware about the Govt scheme related to FP services. Total 37 outlets were visited which included pan shops, community based depots, grocery shops, medical shops and whole seller. Majority of the beneficiaries preferred private contraceptive providers compared to Government providers due to perceived confidentiality, privacy and convenience and availability of various brands of contraceptives. According to the (29) owners of outlets/ Medical shops, the demand of the family planning products from the last five years has increased, the advertisements and IECs play a greater impact on the user’s choice as well as the quality & the effectiveness of the branded family planning products.

Conclusions: Private sector have a greater influence on usage and increase of  family planning services, if proper involvement will be there than the private sector can create wonders and the usage of the products will extensively  increase, it can expand the total family planning market which will  help in catering the existing and future unmet need for contraception. Therefore it is for the government’s advantage to encourage greater private sector involvement in the national family planning program.