In the year 2005, a new segment started in the primary health care sector in Orissa. The management of Primary Health Centre (PHC) with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode initiated. NYSASDRI took the challenge and signed MoU with the state government linked to NRHM aspects to manage two defunct PHCs (New) in the state. Those are located at Atta of Sukinda block (Jajpur district) and Khankira of Gondia block (Dhenkanal district).

This endeavour is one of the strategies adopted in the project “Community Empowerment & Advocacy for Sustainable Healthcare for People in Extremely Need in Orissa” (CEASH). The project envisages not only improving primary health service delivery system, but also igniting health service seeking behaviour among the targeted population. The project is co-funded by ‘European Union’ and ‘Interact Worldwide’ (UK).

The government had handed over these PHCs(N) on ‘experimental basis’ and planned to involve more NGOs in similar activities. This partnership started with a number of difficulties, because of different work culture, variance of employees’ packages and incentives, unaware of reporting structure. In some cases there was almost no clarity. It took quite a long comprehensive period to taste a change in the mindset of both the partners (GO and NGO) to work jointly and coherently. The effort is still on.

The experiment of managing PHCs (N) in PPP model has crossed two eventful years. This model has been proved as a replicable initiative state wide. Now more NGOs have joined the venture. Keeping in view the experience and learning from NYSASDRI initiatives, the government has signed MOU with a number of NGOs for management of another 30 PHCs(N) during early 2008.

For smooth running of the said PHCs (N) in terms of preventive, curative & promotive service delivery, NYSASDRI has provided required human resources, infrastructures, medicines and most importantly ensuring public participation in management of PHC and nearby health sub centres. Hospital Management Committee (HMC) and Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) have been formed at each PHC (N) area to guide/supervise the service delivery mechanism. The committees are monitoring the day to day affairs of the PHCs.

The learning says, once the partners would use their optimum strength and sort out the differences between them then real implication of partnership starts reflecting. The needy rural folks are getting the minimum facility of primary health care within their reach.