Business Development and Strategic Purchasing Unit: Overview | Western Cape Government

Business Development and Strategic Purchasing Unit: Overview

The objective of the Business Development Unit is to investigate, formally study, report and provide initial impetus for the establishment of viable projects between the Private Sector and the Department of Health.

The Business Development Unit has a handful of professionals that work with experts in the Department, without compromising other directorates such as Supply Chain Management.

The directorate is a central access point for the private sector to engage with the Department. This provides a platform where-by non-governmental parties may gain a better understanding of the processes and mechanisms which exist within government, thus allowing Line Management to focus on their primary function.

 

The unit is made up of four (4) components:

1. Public Private Partnership & Public Private Initiatives (PPP & PPI)

The PPP & PPI component assists with the following:

  • Identifying and addressing potentially viable projects
  • Investigating and reporting on these projects
  • Drafting of proposed service level agreements
  • Development of business plans and proposals
  • Assists with the implementation and facilitation of the recommendations provided

New Applications 

 

2. Strategic Partnerships

The purpose of the strategic partnership component is to seek out additional funding for the Department of Health, network and build relationships in order to facilitate efficient service delivery solutions.

 

3. Public Private Health Forum (PPHF) 

The PPHF is a consultative body between the public and private health sector, which promotes community participation in the planning, provision and evaluation of health services and collaborates with the Minister of Health of the Western Cape and the Department.

 

4. Strategic Purchasing

Strategic Purchasing fundamentally aims to align funding and incentives with intended health services. This is achieved by linking the allocation of pooled funds to services/providers, at least in part, to information on population needs/priority interventions, or aspects of provider performance. Strategic Purchasing also exists as a fundamental healthcare financing reform to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Strategic Purchasing is made up of three (3) aspects:

  • What to buy? – Which services will respond to the needs of the target population, how will the benefit package be defined?
  • From whom to buy? – Which providers, public and/or private, or combination thereof will be able to effectively deliver those services?
  • How to buy? – How will providers be paid, at what rates, what are the contracting terms and how will compliance be monitored?

 

The unit is made up of the following:

  1. New Accreditation and Contracting requests 
  2. Maintenance of the Accreditation and Contracting database
  3. Reporting on Strategic Purchasing

 

Other BDU webpages:

 

List of Health Establishments in the Western Cape 

 

The content on this page was last updated on 18 September 2023