Mitigating Ethical Risks in Public-Private Partnerships in Public Health

Abstract

Context: Partnerships between the public and private sectors are necessary in public health and health care. Each partner provides skills, resources, and capabilities. When the public sector, including government, enters into a partnership with a nongovernmental or corporate entity, it is important to determine in advance whether there are real or perceived ethical, financial, or programmatic risks to the organization that might need mitigation.

Program: This article describes how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approached assessing ethical considerations of public-private partnerships, especially those involving monetary or in-kind gifts.

Implementation: There are practices that can be applied no matter the size or structure of the organization that can lead to transparency and accountability for a potential partnership.

Discussion: Examples in this article include a list of practical considerations to review before entering into a new partnership, as well as illustrative anecdotes.