Accountability in public-private partnerships: scope for advances in hospitals under direct management and in a partnership

Abstract This study sought to identify differences between the practices that promote accountability adopted by a state department of health for a hospital unit on a public-private partnership (PPP) and a hospital unit for the direct administration (UHAD). He studied the case of a PPP health sector compared to a UHAD using interviews, consultations with public domain documents and content analysis. Standing out as the differences related to the implementation of the PPP, are characterized by the advances in front of goal setting, ongoing monitoring and the promotion of external transparency, although such advances point to the accountability of results; and the fact of PPP governance have implicated in the increase in accountability, but promoters instruments showing lack in terms of promoting transparency. The study helps in the sense that it shows the relevance of accountability in partnership projects and opportunities for advancement. In future studies, point opportunities aimed at identifying practices of accountability promoted through PPPs in different sectors of the economy, in a comparative perspective, in order to identify the most sensitive sectors in terms of improving accountability.