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Who owns primary care? Navigating the rise of corporatisation

Jansen, Lisa ; Schwarz, Maximilian ; Blane, David ; Glasdam, Stinne LU orcid ; Hadziabdic, Emina and van Tuijl, Lilian (2026) EFPC Conference 2026: Driving Primary Care Transformation: People, Technology, and Care Navigation p.40-40
Abstract
Purpose: Across many countries, primary care is under growing strain. Primary care clinicians face increasing workloads, costs are rising, and ageing populations are driving up demand for care. In this context, corporate actors with a for-profit objective are spotting opportunities to enter the “healthcare market,” bringing new forms of organisation and delivery into primary care. This process of corporatisation may shift governance structures, decision-making, and accountability, as strategic priorities may be shaped by financial returns rather than by professional standards or community needs. Because primary care is largely publicly funded in many countries,
this raises important questions. Is it a problem if public money flows into... (More)
Purpose: Across many countries, primary care is under growing strain. Primary care clinicians face increasing workloads, costs are rising, and ageing populations are driving up demand for care. In this context, corporate actors with a for-profit objective are spotting opportunities to enter the “healthcare market,” bringing new forms of organisation and delivery into primary care. This process of corporatisation may shift governance structures, decision-making, and accountability, as strategic priorities may be shaped by financial returns rather than by professional standards or community needs. Because primary care is largely publicly funded in many countries,
this raises important questions. Is it a problem if public money flows into private corporations?

What does this mean for the core values and characteristics of primary care? And how can and how do we want to respond to this?
This workshop aims to explore these fundamental questions. We want to create space for reflection, help participants develop their own perspectives, and consider possible approaches to safeguard the accessibility, quality, and public values of primary care.

Context: Making a profit from primary care services is not inherently problematic. In many healthcare systems, primary care has long been delivered by clinicians operating single-handed or small partnership for-profit practices. It becomes concerning however, when the pursuit of profit maximalisation by large, consolidated enterprises supersedes the core values and characteristics of primary care.

Format of the workshop: During this workshop presenters will share their knowledge on developments in primary care that are influenced by corporatisation to aid the reflective discussion with the audience.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
corporalisation, primary care, Europe
pages
40 - 40
conference name
EFPC Conference 2026: Driving Primary Care Transformation: People, Technology, and Care Navigation
conference location
Stuttgart, Germany
conference dates
2026-09-06 - 2026-09-08
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4c9532e2-351c-4d1a-8ade-609030ce30d7
alternative location
https://euprimarycare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Program-EFPC-Conference-2026-Stuttgart_final.pdf
date added to LUP
2026-09-16 14:39:14
date last changed
2026-09-16 16:08:47
@misc{4c9532e2-351c-4d1a-8ade-609030ce30d7,
  abstract     = {{Purpose: Across many countries, primary care is under growing strain. Primary care clinicians face increasing workloads, costs are rising, and ageing populations are driving up demand for care. In this context, corporate actors with a for-profit objective are spotting opportunities to enter the “healthcare market,” bringing new forms of organisation and delivery into primary care. This process of corporatisation may shift governance structures, decision-making, and accountability, as strategic priorities may be shaped by financial returns rather than by professional standards or community needs. Because primary care is largely publicly funded in many countries,<br/>this raises important questions. Is it a problem if public money flows into private corporations?<br/><br/>What does this mean for the core values and characteristics of primary care? And how can and how do we want to respond to this?<br/>This workshop aims to explore these fundamental questions. We want to create space for reflection, help participants develop their own perspectives, and consider possible approaches to safeguard the accessibility, quality, and public values of primary care.<br/><br/>Context: Making a profit from primary care services is not inherently problematic. In many healthcare systems, primary care has long been delivered by clinicians operating single-handed or small partnership for-profit practices. It becomes concerning however, when the pursuit of profit maximalisation by large, consolidated enterprises supersedes the core values and characteristics of primary care.<br/><br/>Format of the workshop: During this workshop presenters will share their knowledge on developments in primary care that are influenced by corporatisation to aid the reflective discussion with the audience.<br/><br/>}},
  author       = {{Jansen, Lisa and Schwarz, Maximilian and Blane, David and Glasdam, Stinne and Hadziabdic, Emina and van Tuijl, Lilian}},
  keywords     = {{corporalisation; primary care; Europe}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{40--40}},
  title        = {{Who owns primary care? Navigating the rise of corporatisation}},
  url          = {{https://euprimarycare.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Program-EFPC-Conference-2026-Stuttgart_final.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}