Questions and Answers

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Why did IFC do this report, what was the goal, and where is it available?

What are the key findings?

How is IFC responding to the findings? What are the main elements of IFC’s strategy?


Why is IFC involved in health care? Isn’t that what governments do?


Does the report advocate privatizing health care systems in Africa? Does IFC advocate that?

Many in the public health community oppose private sector involvement in health. What is IFC's view?

What will prevent medical professionals in public sector hospitals from leaving for better-paying jobs in the private sector?

Doesn’t Africa’s private health sector mainly serve the rich?

Do private sector clinics and hospitals offer free or subsidized services for Africa’s poor?

What is IFC’s view on user fees in health care?

Is collaborating with foundations a new trend for IFC? How is the Gates Foundation involved in this report?

Who is your target audience? What kind of partners are you looking for?

What organizations do you expect will participate in the equity vehicle?

What kinds of opportunities do you see for investors?

What kind of investors do you think will be needed to grow the region’s private health sector?

Why do life sciences matter in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Is Africa’s investment climate good for business?

How did you collaborate with the World Bank and NGOs on this report?

How will you publicize the report and IFC's response? How will you ensure that the report is seen by target audiences?

• IFC's communications strategy has set the stage for the report’s release and will ensure that the findings receive broad coverage, allowing key messages to resonate with the various audiences. IFC will aim to leverage awareness and sustain interest, ensuring the report reaches the audiences it is meant to impact and has the desired results—thus helping move from recommendations to action.
• IFC's communication plan includes outreach to the international, regional, and local press. In addition, we will hold four stakeholder forums in early 2008 in Dakar, Senegal; Lagos, Nigeria; Nairobi, Kenya; and Johannesburg, South Africa.
• We will invite the following to participate in the stakeholder forums: representatives of financial institutions; hospital, insurance, and pharmaceutical companies, including operators, providers, and distributors; regulators and policymakers; opinion leaders; NGOs; and the media. We plan to cosponsor these events with relevant government agencies and development finance institutions to ensure wide stakeholder support. Dates of the stakeholder forums and information on how to participate will be posted on the project Web site: www/ifc.org/HealthinAfrica.
• We are also forwarding hard copies of the report to about 3,000 stakeholders and representatives of our target audiences, including those who participated in report preparation.