What Makes Global Healthcare Partnerships Successful? A Systematic Review
What Makes Global Healthcare Partnerships Successful? A Systematic Review
With increasing involvement of academia in addressing the overwhelming burden of disease in low and middle income countries, there is little room for error in establishing successful partnerships in healthcare. Guilfoyle et al., provide a scoping review of shared characteristics of successful healthcare partnerships between high and low-middle income countries. Of those publications fitting the criteria for successful partnerships, the authors propose a minimum list of guidelines to follow for future healthcare partnerships. It is also concluded that lack of funding is the major barrier to achieve sustainability. See abstract below for more details or click here for the full publication.
Abstract
Academic communities are increasingly involved in efforts to address the overwhelming burden of disease in low-middle income countries. There is, however, little research dedicated to understanding the best approach to creating a successful and sustainable global healthcare project. Our objective was to review the shared characteristics of successful healthcare partnerships between high- and low-middle income countries. Two independent reviewers conducted a systematic review. Articles, describing collaborative, healthcare partnerships between a high- and low-middle income countries between 1910 and September 2018, were included. Twenty-six articles were included. The majority of collaborations were initiated by either the host institution or as a joint decision between institutions. The primary goal of these collaborations revolved around medical education/training and curriculum development. Two partnerships, after more than a decade of collaboration, had achieved a self-sustaining programme. Lack of funding was identified as a major barrier to sustainability. Successful global healthcare partnerships require true collaboration and equal participation of all partners. Funding should be secured prior to programme development in anticipation of a minimum 10-year project. A minimum list of guidelines has been proposed to improve the chances of both a successful and sustainable collaboration.