Non-profit bodies seek long-term engagements with pvt players to meet contraceptives' demand

A group of non-profit organisations have sought long-term engagements of at least five years with private partners to meet the gap in demand and supply of contraceptives, saying India's family planning goals too are aimed for long term results.

In their recommendations to the Union Health Ministry, the group sought designating independent consultants to reduce the risk of private and public partners and give them a neutral, but qualified, agency to manage projects, including verification of claims and processing payments.

The recommendations were an outcome of a national consultation held by the Population Foundation of India (PFI) in collaboration with the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust and John Snow India that deliberated on studies focused on strengthening India's family planning programme through social franchising and social marketing of contraceptives.

"As India's family planning goals are long-term, the FP programmes need longer term partnerships, at least for five years and preferably for 8 to 10 years, could be considered," the group stated in their recommendations.

"The government may consider reviewing its 'one service, one rate' system and adopt an assessment of cost of services. This may be better resolved with competitive bidding process."