Authors ' conclusions Training probably improves quality of care ( i.e. adherence to recommended practice ) , regulation may improve quality of care , and we are uncertain about the effects of co‐ordination on quality of private for‐profit healthcare services in LMICs .
Background Governments use different approaches to ensure that private for‐profit healthcare services meet certain quality st and ards .
Such government guidance , referred to as public stewardship , encompasses government policies , regulatory mechanisms , and implementation strategies for ensuring accountability in the delivery of services .
However , the effectiveness of these strategies in low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LMICs ) have not been the subject of a systematic review .
Objectives To assess the effects of public sector regulation , training , or co‐ordination of the private for‐profit health sector in low‐ and middle‐income countries .
Private pharmacy practice and regulation. A randomized trial in Lao P.D.R.
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of government regulation of private pharmacy practice in a low-income country . METHODS The intervention comprised inspections of the pharmacies , information , and distribution of documents to drug sellers and sanctions . It was implemented at two different intensity levels , active and regular intervention . The methods used to assess the effect of the interventions were interviews with the district drug inspectors , drug sellers and customers , inspection of drug purchases , and indicator surveys of pharmacies . Indicators for pharmacy-specific quality as well as for dispensing quality were developed . RESULTS The main finding was one of strong overall improvements from initially low levels . The improvements were particularly marked by increases in the availability of essential material s for dispensing by 34 % and in order in the pharmacy by 19 % . Information given to customers increased from 35 % to 51 % and the mixing of different drugs in the same package went down from 17 % to 9 % . The pharmacies in the active intervention districts showed greater improvements for four of the six indicators , although statistically significant compared with the regular intervention districts only for the essential material s indicator . CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that the regulatory activities have probably been an important factor behind the service quality improvements . It appeared feasible as well as effective to regulate private pharmacy practice in this particular low-income setting
Authors ' conclusions Training probably improves quality of care ( i.e. adherence to recommended practice ) , regulation may improve quality of care , and we are uncertain about the effects of co‐ordination on quality of private for‐profit healthcare services in LMICs .
Background Governments use different approaches to ensure that private for‐profit healthcare services meet certain quality st and ards .
Such government guidance , referred to as public stewardship , encompasses government policies , regulatory mechanisms , and implementation strategies for ensuring accountability in the delivery of services .
However , the effectiveness of these strategies in low‐ and middle‐income countries ( LMICs ) have not been the subject of a systematic review .
Objectives To assess the effects of public sector regulation , training , or co‐ordination of the private for‐profit health sector in low‐ and middle‐income countries .