UK Aid to Improve India's Health Programmes

The UK Government has announced a new aid package of Rs. 2,000 crore for India over the next five years, which would be used mainly for improving the country’s health programmes and access of the poor to healthcare. The details of the project are as follows:-

(i) Andhra Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme

The project cost is £ 40 million/Rs. 320 crore (£38 million for the budget support of Andhra Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme and £2 million for Technical cooperation). The grant will start from the date of signing of MoU and will end on 30th June, 2010.

(ii) Orissa Health Sector Plan.

The DFID support will be for £50 million/Rs 400 crore (£47.50 million for the direct budget support for the implementation of Orissa Health Sector Plan and £2.5 million for Technical cooperation). The project has to be approved and MoU to be signed. It will commence only thereafter.

(iii) Madhya Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme.

The project cost is £60 million/Rs 480 crore (£56 million for the budget support of Madhya Pradesh Health Sector Reform Programme and £4 million for Technical cooperation). The project has to be approved and MoU to be signed. It will commence only thereafter.

(iv) National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) 3

The NACP 3 is pooled by the DFID and World Bank in order to achieve two strategic objectives (a) Achieving behaviour change by scaling up programmes to prevent new infections in high risk groups and the general population; and (b) increased care support and treatment of people living with HIV.

DFID funds of £102 million/Rs 816 crore will be pooled with the World Bank, out of which, £7 million will be for technical assistance. This includes £5 million for contracting a technical resource to support the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to deliver NACP 3 and the remaining £2 million will be channeled to support the first UN Joint Support Plan for HIV/AIDS in India.

A number of British companies that visited India as part of the Healthcare Mission in January 2007 have either signed joint ventures with Indian companies or are pursuing discussions with potential Indian partners.

Those that have signed joint venture include:

· The Health Protection Agency UK, which has signed a royalty-bearing license with the Serum Institute of India to develop a pentavalent vaccine for India and developing countries for bacterial meningococcal disease;
· Practical Business Solutions, which has signed an MoU with ZWA Technology in Mumbai to deliver an emergency medical services programme in India; and
· The UK Royal College of Physicians, which has delivered a pilot course to a private sector hospital in Kerala.

British companies that are pursuing discussion with their Indian counterparts include the University of York, Eschmann Holdings, Tenscare and Smiths Medical International.

This information was given by the Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

Source-PIB
SRM/S