Partnerships with the private sector

Increasingly, the private sector (businesses, commercial organizations and for-profit organizations) is seen as an important partner in public health and well-being. This chapter explores the role of the private sector in some depth. It begins by discussing the potential for involving business in partnerships to improve health and well-being. This is followed by a discussion of the drawbacks and problems of private sector involvement. The next section focuses on the role of the private sector in health partnerships at global level. This is followed by a review of recent national policies on the private sector and public health in the UK, including the Coalition government’s Responsibility Deal. Finally, some examples of local partnership working with the private sector are discussed. The chapter also considers the role of social enterprises in health and well-being (see Box 7.1).