Private Sector Resources for Health in Antigua and Barbuda: A Rapid Mapping

The assessment captured information on the overall strengths and weaknesses of the health system, both public and private, under the framework of the World Health Organization's health systems building blocks. Special emphasis was placed on the current and potential role of the private health sector in addressing HIV and AIDS across each of the building blocks. A meeting with key stakeholders to present assessment findings and recommendations and to determine priorities for action was held in February 2012. The meeting validated one of the top priorities identified in the report, which was the need to explore partnerships with the private sector that maximize all on-island resources for health. While the assessment and validation meeting brought to light some key facts and insights about the private sector, the lack of a formal registry of private health providers suggested that the actual size and scope of the private health sector was largely unknown in Antigua and Barbuda. A mapping tool was developed to help identify the degree of specialization, equipment available, services offered, staffing, and location of each private provider in Antigua and Barbuda. The mapping exercise was intended to provide the Ministry of Health and other public and private sector stakeholders with a better understanding of the private health sector's capacity, and contribute to greater coordination and cooperation between the sectors. The mapping exercise was designed to gather information through structured interviews with private health facilities, pharmacies, laboratories, diagnostic facilities, dental facilities, nursing homes, and NGOs providing HIV and AIDS and/or reproductive health services. A quantitative questionnaire was designed to gather basic information, including address, contact details, and hours of operation from each identified facility. Additional questions were developed to gather information on the availability of services, including HIV and AIDS-specific services, as well as equipment and pharmaceuticals at each location. Data collection for clinical providers was limited to facilities with at least one staff member with an advanced clinical degree. The mapping team began the data collection process by conducting a preliminary search and compiling a master list of private sector health resources in Antigua and Barbuda. Initial sources included participant lists from the joint health systems and private sector assessment and prioritization meeting as well as the local Yellow Pages. Facilities contained within the master facility list were contacted to confirm that they were currently providing health services. A customized Microsoft Access database with an easy-to-use data entry interface was created for the mapping exercise. Quantitative data were entered by the mapping team directly into the database while administering the assessment questions. The database was designed with an intelligent data entry system that ensured that the value for each field or data item was within a predetermined and permissible range of values for that item. This increased the likelihood that reasonable data were entered during the interview process.