The government wishes to introduce more competition in the medical care sector. The introduction of a renewed expenses system will challenge hospital managements to manage their real estate as efficiently as possible. A hospital management board wants a fine building, which optimally meets the needs of patients and employees, and which fits in with the available budget. The application of PPP in the medical care sector makes this possible. And because of this, hospitals and other medical care establishments can fully concentrate on their primary task: the medical care of the patient.
Advantages of PPP in the medical care sector
A distinction is often made in health care between cure (e.g. treatment by family doctors and hospitals) and care (e.g. home medical care, nursing homes and rest homes and handicapped medical care). Application of PPP in the medical care sector appears especially interesting for hospitals and rest homes and nursing homes. This is due to the great need for new rest homes and nursing homes and the high investment, relatively large operation component and architectural complexity with hospitals.
PPP in the medical care sector means for example:
- Good quality medical care is central. The medical care establishment can concentrate on its primary task: the provision of medical care. Non-clinical tasks, such as making beds, can if desired be delegated to a private party. This enables the nursing personnel to devote themselves fully to the medical care of the patient.
- Gain in efficiency. This can be achieved by an optimum attunement of design, construction, maintenance and supporting services during the contract (life cycle management). The hospital only has to deal with one contract and one contact person. The contractor is responsible for the whole process and bears all accompanying financial risks.
- Long-term certainty about costs. DBFM(O) contracts are all long-term, lasting 20 to 30 years. The medical care establishment has thus long-term certainty about the costs of accommodation and supporting services.
- Timely handover. The contractor funds the investment in the building. He only receives payment when the building is available for use. This means a strong financial incentive to have the building finished on time.
Continual high level of quality. If the quality of the services provided is lower than agreed, the payment to the contractor is adjusted accordingly. He has the incentive therefore to maintain the services at least at the required level.
In spite of the many advantages, PPP has not yet made its mark in the medical care sector. This is expected to change with the revised government policy. Strukton Integrale Projecten believes in this market. We will employ our PPP experience for this, because this sector can also profit from the advantages of public-private co-operation.
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