Public-private partnerships in health care for developing countries: a new paradigm for change.

The shift in traditional corporate philanthropy policy and practices from one of objective giving to strategic investing is discussed along with the positive impact of these changes as realized through a social awareness and the emerging new paradigm of public private partnerships. Examples of corporate support with focus on a case study concerning HIV/AIDS in Africa are presented within the context of lessons learned. These examples illustrate how public and private sectors working together, can maximize the potential philanthropic endeavor. Using strategically directed, yet humanitarian and culturally sensitive efforts, managed care organizations may find the concepts and negotiations inherent to philanthropic partnerships a familiar setting, and would therefore be suitable candidates to engage in public-private partnerships.