Senegal private health sector rapid assessment.

At the request of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) / Senegal the Private Sector Partnerships-One (PSP-One) project conducted a rapid assessment to understand better the current and potential market for family planning (FP) products and services in the private health sector and provide USAID with recommendations to strengthen the private health sector in Senegal. The PSP-One team found a strong private health sector with engaged dynamic leaders and heard examples of entrepreneurial endeavors. Despite the many encouraging signs of a strong private sector there are key constraints limiting its expansion including: Limited purchasing power of potential private sector clients; The cost of and restrictions on bank credit to finance creation or expansion of medical practices; Limited business management skills of providers which can inhibit their success or growth; Low demand for FP products and services; and Weak supply mechanisms to reach rural village or communities of fewer than 5000 people.