Key Stakeholder Message: Ms. Shaila Purvin
Ms. Shaila Purvin,Chief Executive Officer, Surjer Hashi Network As someone who has spent years working closely with underserved urban communities, I have witnessed firsthand both the immense potential and the persistent gaps within Bangladesh’s urban health system. The recent dialogue on Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) reinforced a reality we encounter every day: no single sector can address the growing health needs of our rapidly expanding urban population. Particularly in low-income settlements, access to affordable, reliable, and quality healthcare remains a daily struggle, and it is here that well-structured PPPs can play a transformative role.
At Surjer Hashi Network, we have long worked at the intersection of community-based and clinical service delivery, focusing on women, children, and marginalized groups. Our experience demonstrates that integrated primary healthcare models those that are accessible, responsive, and community-centered can significantly improve health outcomes when supported by strong partnerships. However, these successes often depend on fragmented funding and short-term project cycles, raising critical questions about sustainability and scalability. From my perspective, the most pressing issue is not the absence of partnerships, but rather the absence of structured, accountable, and long-term collaboration frameworks. PPPs must move beyond ad hoc arrangements toward clearly defined systems with shared goals, transparent contracts, and measurable outcomes. Without strong governance and accountability mechanisms, there is a real risk that service quality may vary, costs may increase, and the very populations we aim to serve may remain excluded.
Equity must remain at the heart of all PPP initiatives. Urban health systems cannot be considered successful if they fail to reach the poorest and most vulnerable. This requires intentional design targeted subsidies, community outreach, and inclusive service models that prioritize those living in informal settlements. We must also ensure that services are not only available but trusted and utilized by communities, which requires sustained engagement and social accountability. Another key lesson from our work is the importance of coordination across sectors. Health outcomes in urban areas are deeply influenced by factors such as housing, sanitation, and environmental conditions. PPPs, therefore, must adopt a multi-sectoral approach, engaging not only health actors but also local government, urban planners, and community organizations. Strengthening these linkages will be critical to achieving meaningful and lasting impact.
Looking ahead, I believe there is a strong opportunity to build on existing PPP experiences in Bangladesh and scale them into a more integrated national system. This will require predictable financing, supportive policy frameworks, and continued collaboration between government, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector. As practitioners, we remain committed to contributing our experience and working collectively to ensure that urban health systems become more inclusive, equitable, and resilient for all.
