Increasing NGO Role in Health Service Delivery: A Review of Key Challenges for Pakistan and Developing Countries

Abstract

Recent years have seen an upsurge in international donor interest for promotion of NGOs as preferred providers to replace government delivery of social services in developing countries, particularly in the health care sector.1 This has been driven by an increasing research consensus over the years on the poor quality of government services, inability to reach those most in need as well as centralized and slow moving systems with weak planning and loose monitoring.2 Issues of dubious quality of care and high cost margins associated with the private commercial sector have driven recent policy attention to the role of the NGO sector credited with client commitment, a non-profit nature and better quality of care.3 In Pakistan, this has involved increased donor