Perhaps the greatest lesson that family planning managers can learn from the private commercial sector is to listen to the consumer. Family planning program managers can pay careful attention to their clients, anticipate their needs, and get an insight into the concerns of both current and potential family planning users by using survey techniques like focus groups and exit interviews. A suggestion box placed in the waiting room will also let you know the clients' opinions. Providing high-quality services Another lesson that family planning managers can learn from the private commercial sector is that the investment in quality is worthwhile. Quality sells products, and satisfied customers will keep coming back.
People are more willing to pay for services when they know they are of good quality.
For these reasons, attention to the quality of family planning services will yield important results in increased demand and increased willingness to pay for services. Improve the quality of family planning services Set quality standards which are appropriate to the situation, and enforce them. The first step in developing a quality product or service is setting appropriate standards. Standards should take into consideration the real environment that the client faces and the medical or social consequences of standards that are too lax or too stringent. In many family planning programs, inappropriately stringent medical standards act as a barrier to obtaining services, while standards of service delivery are ignored.