Private practitioners in the slums of Karachi: What quality of care do they offer?

Abstract

Private health services have expanded in many developing countries over the last 10 yr. Qualified private practitioners provide basic health care for poorer groups in urban areas, although health care planners frequently criticize them for providing: poor quality of care, charging high fees and failing to provide preventive health advice. In Karachi, a large city with more than 400 slums, private practitioners are important providers of care to the poor. This study assessed the nature and quality of care provided by 201 practitioners selected from four districts of the city. Vignettes of specific medical problems were used to assess their knowledge and their practice was measured by observin..