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The Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP) Ghana has expressed its displeasure at what it describes as an under utilisation of its services by the state. The group complained that considering the competence and the significant contribution they could make to the nation, they had been sidelined in major stakeholder engagements by the state and other relevant bodies. The society has, therefore, advocated that the Private Sector Desk be strengthened and resourced to actively engage all private sector key players in formulating policies in all aspects of healthcare delivery. That, the group said, would help in building the capacity of the unit to improve in the gathering of information on health issues and adequate health statistics that would improve efficiency in the country�s health delivery system. The National President of the Society, Dr Kwasi Odoi-AgyarkoAgyarko, stated the association's position at their 34th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Tema recently. The programme held on the theme: �Public private partnership for rapid health development� was attended by members from all over the country. �We were surprised that as stakeholders, we were sidelined when conferences on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), nutrition, HIV, tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, as well as issues relating to National Health Insurance, were held recently to chart new courses for the country�s health sector, � Dr Odoi-Agyarko said. Dr Odoi-Agyarko said in spite of the private practitioners resolve to avail themselves for assistance whenever they were called upon, the society had persistently been overlooked by the government. He also expressed concern about the manner in which capacity building and resourcing of the private health sector had been carried out by the state. That, he said, had not facilitated effective delivery of quality healthcare to the country�s teeming population that required healthcare due to the unavailability of state facilities at certain parts of the country. The President also called for a review of the Private Health Sector Policy document formulated in 2003 and revised in 2011. �We believe 90 per cent of the recommendations on the policy document are not actively disseminated or implemented,� he reiterated. Dr Odoi-Agyarko pledged the society�s resolve to actively play a meaningful and competent role in providing quality care to assist the government to attain national objectives and targets in health deliverables. �It is in this light that we believe a better collaboration between governmental agencies and our involvement in policy decisions are vital to resuscitating the ailing sector,� he stressed.