Typically, discussions about the private sector revolve around the private-for-profit sector. Although this is an important sub-sector of the private sector, it is not all there is. The private sector refers to non-state actors; they could be for-profit or not-for-profit, formal or informal, providing a mix of goods and services including direct provision of health services, medicines and medical products, financial products, training for the health workforce, information technology, infrastructure and support services (e.g. health facility management). This post will focus on the private health sector involvement in service provision.