Health min to use GAVI's expertise to strengthen health system

To further strengthen the health systems in India, Union health ministry has decided to use the expertise of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) which today announced to extend its support to the government in enhancing capacity and knowledge for the country's routine immunisation programme.
The move came after a meeting of GAVI CEO Seth Berkley with the Union Health Minister J P Nadda here during which various issues relating to India's health sector were discussed.
Terming immunisation as a crucial determinant for a productive community, Nadda today said his Ministry will use expertise of GAVI in further strengthening health systems in the country.

"Berkley assured the Minister support of GAVI in strengthening health systems further in order to enhance the capacity and knowledge of the Routine Immunisation programme," an official statement said.
Elaborating the new initiatives of the Ministry, including Mission 'Indradhanush' that aims to cover all missed-out and left-out children with cover of full immunisation apart from the launch of new vaccines including pentavalent, rota virus, pneumococcal, measles-ruebella and the adult Japanese Encephalitis vaccine.
"Immunisation is the only way forward for healthy India as it is a very crucial determinant of a productive community.

"We are looking forward to develop synergies and to use expertise of GAVI in strengthening health systems in India. GAVI can play an important role in making our systems more robust," Nadda said while appreciating GAVI's efforts in complimenting the government's efforts for achieving universal immunisation.

Berkley expressed appreciation for the initiatives taken by the Ministry towards strengthening the health systems, particularly in the area full immunisation through Mission 'Indradhanush'.
He also appreciated the resolve and commitment to launch new vaccines to protect the children and India's population from various diseases, it said.
Berkley had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently where discussions were held on the the alliance's proposal to have a new strategic partnership with India for 2016-2021, which will see further fund support of up to USD500 million to accelerate the introduction of modern vaccines for all children in the country.