Expanding Access to Essential Healthcare

IFC is enhancing healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries through innovative private sector support, helping people gain essential health services and contributing to sustainable health systems.

 IFC is committed to improving healthcare quality in low- and middle-income countries, where the demand-supply gap is large and public health systems often struggle to meet needs. With the private sector providing significant services in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, IFC supports innovative business models, technology, and digitalization to make health systems more efficient and inclusive, expanding access to essential care.

Healthcare is essential for people and societies to flourish, yet in low- and middle-income countries, the availability of quality care is often limited. Half the world’s population – some 4.5 billion people – don’t have access to essential health services and this has a negative impact on human development and economic growth.

IFC’s support for the private health sectors in developing countries spans over 25 years and covers multiple sub-sectors, including health services, life sciences, and medical technologies. Our strategy and activities in the health sector have also evolved substantially over the years, in line with the changing market landscapes and the role played by the private sector in specific health systems. IFC is committed to helping countries meet their Sustainable Development Goals for health, and building health systems that are sustainable, resilient, and ready to deliver, whatever the challenge.

The World Bank Group is committed to helping 1.5 billion people access care through its programs by 2030, and IFC is contributing to this goal through support for private sector healthcare. The private sector already delivers close to 50 percent or more of health services in many regions, including in sub-Saharan Africa – and strengthening delivery and quality of private healthcare will enable countries to better meet healthcare demands and boost the availability of more innovative and advanced services.

Health systems are strongest when public and private providers and other stakeholders work together in a complementary way. IFC collaborates closely with IBRD and IDA – the branches of the World Bank Group that engage explicitly with governments – in strengthening the regulatory and governance standards for the private sector and enabling closer public-private collaboration. Helping governments utilize private sector capabilities and capacities is part of the solution for expanding access to quality care. IFC also partners with international organizations and other development finance institutions to mobilize funding, identity projects with the most impact, and work together to create an environment that enhances the level of patient care and holds all health players accountable.