How To Build Partnerships For Sustainable Healthcare

By Helga van Kampen, Lola Gostelow, Partnership Brokers Assocation (PBA), and Ania Mitan, Drug Information Association (DIA)

Effective partnerships are essential to address the multifaceted challenges of the healthcare sector, yet collaborative efforts often face persistent barriers. Stakeholders—from industry and academia to regulators, patient groups, and HTAs—recognize the potential of partnerships to create societal value, share risk, and drive innovation. However, barriers such as fragile trust, power imbalances, internal misalignment, and divergent expectations frequently hinder progress. Here we examine the results of a multiyear collaboration between DIA and the Partnership Brokers Association (PBA), including a keynote by Dr. Leda Stott and subsequent focus groups, which examined how to build more sustainable, trust-based collaborations.

Case studies, including the DRIVE initiative, highlight both the promise and pitfalls of multistakeholder partnerships. Key enablers of success include transparent governance, open dialogue, shared goals, and sensitivity to language and perception. A recurring theme is the power of open, inclusive conversations to build trust and dismantle assumptions. Collaborative success requires recognizing diverse priorities, aligning visions, and measuring impact beyond traditional metrics. Ultimately, by addressing the human and structural dimensions of collaboration, healthcare stakeholders can cultivate partnerships that are not only effective but transformative—anchored in shared purpose and sustained impact for public health.