Giving a call to the private sector, health care providers for providing accessible and affordable healthcare facilities in Uttarakhand, the State health Minister Surendra Singh Negi assured every possible help to them.
He was speaking at a workshop on “Brainstorming and Consultation on Innovative Models of Partnership with Private Sector for Health Services in Uttarakhand” which was organised by the World Bank on Tuesday in New Delhi.
Addressing the workshop as chairperson Negi emphasised that Uttarakhand is a different State in terms of its geography and topography. The State has infrastructure but lacks trained medical staff. He said that the private sector health care providers should come forward to fill this gap. Negi stated that delivery of services with humanitarian perspective with help of private partners will help in delivery of quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services to the people of Uttarakhand.
State Principal Secretary (Health), Om Prakash said the State Government is willing to offer all required support to private healthcare providers if they assist the state in offering healthcare services.He elaborated upon existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the State. He stressed on developing models where a win-win situation is created for all stake holders.
He said that in such model the people should get affordable quality healthcare services in their vicinity and the Government should be able fulfill its commitment to deliver quality services in undeserved areas and the private players should have flexibility in operations, cost, and working environment.
In the meeting the representatives of World Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Department for International Development (DFID) presented their views and suggestion on how the private sector can optimally engage with the Uttarakhand Government in delivering healthcare services.
The discussion also revolved around as what the State Government expects from the private players and what they in turn expect from the State. In the workshop Dr Prem lal, Dr Asha Singh, Dr Saroj Naithani, and Dr HCS Martolia participated in the deliberations on behalf of the State medical and health department.