| dc.description.abstract | This study looks into the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in South Africa. In the western world PPPs have proven an efficient way of managing public services. PPPs can exist on many different policy terrain. In the developing world not many studies have been performed on PPPs yet. The existing literature does state that different challenges in PPPs are in effect in developing countries then in the western world. These challenges can be divided in ethical and technical challenges. These challenges can affect the outcome of PPPs. Another important factor effecting PPPs is the form of governance characterises the different partners. The different forms of governance are: hierarchical, rational goal, self-governance and open systems model.
This study looks into a PPP on health care, in specific HIV/AIDS care. In South Africa HIV/AIDS has taken on pandemic proportions and is a major issue and many different organisations are active in this field. As government only stepped in into HIV/AIDS treatment in 2004 other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have stepped into the gap to help the community. Many of these organisations are funded by donors from overseas, but donor money never lasts forever. One of these NGOs is the SACBC AIDS Office. The SACBC AIDS Office and their local clinic, the Newcastle Catholic ARV Project, are commencing a PPP with the local Amajabu District Department of Health. How this partnership is going to be structured is not yet clear, but different scenarios have been taken into account.
It became clear that the South African government is a highly hierarchical organisation in all of its levels. Whereas the SACBC AIDS Office is hierarchical but their local clinic fits the rational goal model and the self-governance model in forms of governance. When looked at the partnership itself it is a hierarchical partnership where the government tends to take control. This sometimes causes friction within the partnership because the SACBC AIDS Office and the Newcastle Catholic ARV Project are the ones that always adapt.
When looking at in what way the partnership could be governed more efficient, the SACBC AIDS Office clinic would be allowed to keep its independence. Government is able to procure treatment at lower prices and wants to supply treatment to the area the Newcastle Catholic ARV Project operates. The Newcastle Catholic ARV Project already has expertise and has build up a name in the area. These strength can be combined when government chooses to outsource the service delivery to the SACBC AIDS Office and Newcastle Catholic ARV Project. | |
