The for-profit sector in humanitarian response: integrating ethical considerations in public policy decision making.
The engagement of the for-profit private sector in health, social and humanitarian services has become a topic of keen interest. It is particularly contentious in those instances where for-profit organizations have become recipients of public funds, and where they become key decision-makers in terms of how, and to whom, services are provided. We put forward a framework for identifying and organizing the ethical questions to be considered when contracting government services to the for-profit sector, specifically in those areas that have traditionally remained in the public or not-for-profit spheres. The framework is designed to inform both academic debate and practical decision-making regarding the acceptability, feasibility and legitimacy of for-profit organizations carrying out humanitarian work. First, we outline the importance of posing ethical questions in government contracting for-profit vs. not-for-profit organizations. We then outline five key areas to be considered before then examining the extent to which ethics concerns are warranted and how they may be safeguarded.
a Menzies Centre for Health Policy, The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.|b School of Public Health, The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Carmen
C
Huckel Schneider
b School of Public Health, The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
Joel
J
Negin
D032982:Contracts; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit; D017149:Private Sector / Q000941:ethics*; D011640:Public Policy; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships / Q000941:ethics*; D012066:Relief Work
Public policy ethics; business ethics; corporate social responsibility; humanitarian response; outsourcing