Effective governance of the private health sector is critical for achieving national health goals, yet it remains underprioritized in many contexts. Recent reviews underscore the need for a clear vision, strengthened institutional capacity, and the strategic use of synergistic tools—such as aligning regulation with contracting—to improve system performance. Transparent and inclusive policy processes, alongside greater public sector accountability, are essential to prevent corruption and ensure legitimacy. The governance choices made today will shape tomorrow’s health systems—either paving the way to universal health coverage (UHC) or reinforcing barriers to it.

To support countries in navigating this complex landscape, WHO has developed the Progression Pathway for Governance of Mixed Health Systems. This tool is designed to help governments more effectively govern mixed systems and harness the private sector's contributions toward achieving UHC.