New public-private hospital saves lives but sinks budget

A hospital built as a public-private partnership has drastically improved patient health outcomes, but nearly bankrupted the impoverished country's health ministry. The partnership between the government and a consortium run by South African healthcare provider Netcare was brokered by the World Bank, and aimed to bolster healthcare in the country with a $100 million hospital. After coming under fire for the partnership's veiled financials, the government revealed that more than half the country's entire health budget is being spent on service payments to the consortium.