The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : State modifies PPP policy for public health system

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Saturday, Jun 28, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

State modifies PPP policy for public health system

Special Correspondent

It is likely to strengthen the Primary Health Centres in Karnataka

‘Private companies must participate in implementing Government programmes’
Karuna Trust manages 25 PHCs in the State and nine in Arunachal Pradesh under PPP model

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

For better health: (From left) M. Madan Gopal, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare; Srinivas Achari, Health Commissioner; and H. Sudarshan, Chairman, Task Force on Health and Family Welfare at the workshop in Bangalore on Friday.

BANGALORE: The State Government has modified the policy on public-private partnership (PPP) in the health sector, to strengthen the public health delivery system, Madan Gopal, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said on Friday.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare B. Sriramulu is slated to announce the modified PPP policy at a meeting of the heads of medical colleges, captains of the health sector and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to be convened shortly, Mr. Madan Gopal said at a dissemination workshop on PPP initiatives in the health sector.

Though private partners have been doing a good job in managing the primary health centres (PHCs) in the State, there have been many instances of failures. “Whether the initiative has led to improved health status of the community is important,” he observed.

He added that besides treating patients, private partners should also actively participate in the implementation of various Government programmes. They should work in tandem with related departments such as Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Women and Child Welfare and Primary and Secondary Education.

Build confidence

Mr. Madan Gopal said PPP programmes can be successful only if the agencies concerned can build confidence in the people about the initiatives.

The PPP programmes should not be taken up unless there is 100 per cent consensus. “PPP means political will, public servants’ support and people’s acceptance,” he observed.

H. Sudarshan, Chairman, Task Force on Health and Family Welfare, made a presentation on the PPP model for the health sector. He explained the achievements of Karuna Trust, headed by him, which now manages 25 PHCs in the State and nine in Arunachal Pradesh under PPP.

Enhanced services

Karuna Trust has ensured that PHCs under its management provide round-the-clock emergency and casualty services, out-patient facilities for six days a week, five to 10-bed in-patient facilities and 24-hours labour room and essential obstetric facilities, among others.

Dr. Sudarshan listed the following as the challenges before the PPP in healthcare: resistance from private nursing homes in the vicinity who feel threatened about losing business; corruption at district health offices that could impact timely sanction of grants and supply of drugs; vested interests influencing the decisions of zilla panchayats against the partnership; discrimination between Government-run and NGOs-managed PHCs; shortage of MBBS doctors and poor quality of human resources; lack of budgetary provisions for administration, monitoring and capacity building; and mobilising funds to make up for the gaps in government budgets.

Kishore Murthy, director, Mission of Institute of Health Management Research (IHMR), presented a performance evaluation report of the PPP model in Karnataka with focus on Karuna Trust. He said there is an obvious improvement in the vital and process indicators of the PHCs managed by Karuna Trust.

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