The Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) project, led by Abt Associates and funded by USAID  is implementing a three-year program in Kenya that has two objectives: (1) increase health care coverage through new and expanded private health care financing mechanisms; and (2) increase the availability and improve the sustainability of quality private health and HIV and AIDS services and products by identifying, supporting, and improving private sector models. This profile presents the goals, components, results, and lessons learned. The following lessons were learned from the SHOPS program in Kenya:

• The private health sector presents additional opportunities to mobilize domestic resources for health programs;
• Private health insurance could be an effective tool to increase the population of people living with HIV enrolled in antiretroviral therapy by expanding access to care and treatment at private health facilities; and
• Engaging the private sector requires addressing business challenges.