Businesses should partner with the public health sector in Nepal. Here’s why and how

Historically, public health agencies have had relatively few formal partnerships with private businesses. Many businesses have either no awareness of public health or a very narrow view of its role. For the others, interactions have usually centred on governmental public health’s regulatory functions such as assuring workplace, product, and consumer safety and establishing environmental standards.

These types of activities can increase business costs, at least over the short term, and can predispose businesses to a negative impression of public health’s authority and responsibilities. However, all businesses and public health agencies share an interest, that is to ensure a healthy population. Hence, businesses should have a financial interest in supporting organised public health efforts, and collaborative efforts can increase the reach and effectiveness of health services.