Article at a glance:

How private health care can help Africa

• A study of sub-Saharan Africa’s health care sector finds that the private sector plays a significant—and growing—role in meeting Africa’s health care needs.
• The increasing demand could translate into $20 billion of additional investment to the region’s private-sector health care infrastructure over the coming decade.
• Health care provision will account for half of the total investment opportunity, with the remainder divided among distribution and retailing, pharmaceuticals and medical-product manufacturing, risk pooling, and medical education.
• Private-sector shortcomings—such as inconsistent quality of care, unethical business practices, and inadequate regulatory frameworks—must be addressed if the private sector is to most effectively benefit the health of Africa’s people.