Editorial

Abstract

In this four-month period, some news particularly approaching the relationship between public/private in health have drawn attention. Certainly the most institutional news refers to the adoption of the new Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (Fensa) of the World Health Organization (WHO), adopted on 28 May 2016 by the 69th World Health Assembly. After a long debate, the WHO Member States have agreed on rules that should apply for the relationship between the organization and its partners from the so-called “third sector”, private companies, research institutions, philanthropic organizations, among others. However, the debate seems unfinished. An argument previously raised to the approval of the text: “The principle of ‘inclusiveness’for all non-state actors indicates the failure to acknowledge the different nature – and thus different roles – public and private sector actors should play in global health governance [...] widely opens the door for them to shape public health policies and priorities”, keeps being used: “The final version is a great improvement over the original, this cannot be denied.

Keywords

• Editorial