World Bank to improve Uttar Pradesh health systems

LUCKNOW: World Bank’s team of eight members lead by Vikram Rajan has accomplished its first post signing mission to discuss implementation readiness of the Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Strengthening Project. The $152 million project aims to finance efforts to help in improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of health services in the state.

As per the mission, the project team acknowledged the new specialist cells that need to be set up in the directorate of medical health for strengthening the health system functions of the state. These cells comprise electronic and processing-data resource centre, quality assurance cell, public-private partnership cell and the environment management cell.

"With the project becoming effective on May 25, 2012, the mission focused on agreeing on steps to ensure speedy implementation. New cells at DOMH, aimed at better health data and quality management and a more effective engagement with the private sector, are being set up," said Rajan, Task Team Leader, World Bank. Under this project, the team discussed various health initiatives recently announced by the government, including strengthening the procurement and supply chain management.