Private Provider and Pharmacist Engagement in Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: A Cross-Sectional Study in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the private health service delivery sector's engagement in public health emergency preparedness and response in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

Methods: Between November 2022 and March 2023, private health care providers from registered clinics and hospitals (n = 574) and pharmacies (n = 1008) were surveyed on their participation and willingness to engage in specific public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

Results: In Vietnam, 40% of respondents reported being engaged in emergency response between 2020 and 2022, compared to 33% in Cambodia and 25% in Laos. Provider and pharmacist participation in the COVID-19 response was largely through their own initiative and included on-the-job COVID-19 trainings, providing health information to patients, and assisting with testing and contact tracing. Respondents expressed high levels of willingness to participate in a broad range of proposed activities, particularly those from clinics or hospitals and those with previous experience.

Conclusions: While respondent willingness for involvement in preparedness and response is high, only a small proportion of respondents had been engaged by health authorities, revealing missed opportunities for fully leveraging private health care providers. Future policy and programmatic efforts to strengthen health security in view of more resilient mixed health systems should proactively engage private sector actors.