'Private Sector Must Help Meet India's Health Goals'

New Delhi: As India takes up its ambitious targets for reducing maternal and child mortality, a senior USAID official says participation of the corporate sector is a must to fulfil the government's aims.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator for Asia Nisha Biswal stressed that success in the field of healthcare in India depended on interventions which could show quick results, and the changes in India will have a global impact.

"I can say India's private sector is going to be the biggest factor in scaling change," Biswal told IANS in an interview.

"First, it makes sense for their own business. When the people are healthy, the economy prospers. Also, when the corporates provide benefits like healthcare and social security to their employees, the employee is loyal to the company," she said.

"Secondly, there is a deep desire to connect the needs of the base level and the aspirations of the top level. You cannot keep the two disconnected very long without creating disturbance in society... As it is said, India needs to work for Bharat," Biswal added.

"The government of India has a methodological and data oriented working style, which is showing results. The government has identified target districts, and if they succeed in bringing change in these places, the effect will be seen. Focussed interventions are the need of the hour, identifying areas, as well as threats," Biswal said.

For instance, India accounts for the largest number of under-5 deaths - nearly 1.5 million, of which close to 0.8 million die within 28 days of birth.

Nevertheless, steady progress in curbing child deaths has been demonstrated. The rate of decline in the under-5 five mortality has much faster than the global average; from 115 in 1990 to 59 in 2010 as against the global average of 87 and 57 respectively.