Overview
COVID-19 has reinforced the need for whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches to the pandemic response. This has tested the foundation of public and private sector relations in healthcare, and either nurtured or
exacerbated trust. In many instances, the private sector has demonstrated solidarity and delivered critical
essential and COVID-19-related health services and products. However adverse behaviours have also
featured. These have exacerbated the State’s duty to ‘protect’ the right to health, improve health security and
system resilience for universal health care. The pandemic has further exposed the need for robust
governance of health systems. This is good for both the private and public sectors, but most importantly,
consumers, including those most likely to be left behind. This rapid review seeks to understand why and
where there has been swift and proactive action to build better governance of national COVID-19 response,
to cross-countries lessons sharing on how to govern the private sector in health to maximize the COVID-19
response.
