FICCI & NATHEALTH Sign MoU to jointly Strengthen Healthcare Systems & Public-Private-Partnerships

FICCI and NATHEALTH will work together for formulating a model arrangement for active participation of private hospitals in health programs launched by the government and creating a reference document for public-private partnership

Apex Industry bodies join hands to formulate a Patient Charter that helps create awareness and builds trust between patients and hospitals

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai : The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),the leading industry body, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the healthcare industry body -Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) to jointly strengthen healthcare systems through Policy Advocacy & Public-Private-Partnerships. The MoU aims to provide a wider representation of the healthcare industry to key stakeholders in areas of policymaking and creating a suitable environment to benefit all stakeholders. 

Under the agreement, two apex industry bodies intent to co-operate and focus their efforts on creating and implementing policies that help build trust, share knowledge and resource and create commercial opportunities for the mutual benefit of its members.

Through this collaboration, FICCI and NATHEALTH have identified five major areas of collaboration viz. Policy Advocacy, Public-private partnership, Recommending financial models, Patient Charter and Capacity Building.They have alsoagreed to develop a common minimum agenda for the year, aligned to national healthcare goals and work towards getting the government’s support in taking this agenda forward.

(Hony.) Brig Dr Arvind Lal, Chair, FICCIHealth Services, while signing the MoU said, “FICCI has set up several Task Forces to recommend measures for strengthening number of specialist doctors, pricing and accountability in healthcare and bridging the trust deficit. Through this collaboration both FICCI and NATHEALTH would be able to present a unified voice for the healthcare industry in critical areas such as capacity building, quality and Patient Charter”.

“We have common interest and objectives. We will establish channels of communication and co-operation that will promote and advance the objectives of the members through common dialogue and representation. NATHEALTH, in association with FICCI, will formulate joint representations on behalf of the members on matters relating to successful implementation of government’s program under National Health Mission including AB-PMJAY,” said Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, President, NATHEALTH.  

Capacity building in Tier II & III cities is a priority for the government and the industry is committed to extending all its support. FICCI and NATHEALTH will work together in recommending reference cost structure for building and operating hospitals in non-metro locations and suggesting models for revenue and costing that meets the ‘inclusive healthcare’ objective of the government.

Dr Lal added that, “while we would work towards capacity creation in smaller cities and recommend locations that are best suited for the government to initiate public-private partnerships, we will also explore sustainable PPP/philanthropic/CSR modelsfor efficient running of the 150,000 HWCs under Ayushman Bharat for imparting quality primary healthcare, control of NCDs and availability of high quality diagnostics”.  

About FICCI : Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. Its history is closely interwoven with India's struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.

A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India's business and industry. From influencing policy to encouraging debate, engaging with policymakers and civil society, FICCI articulates the views and concerns of industry. It serves its members from the Indian private and public corporate sectors and multinational companies, drawing its strength from diverse regional chambers of commerce and industry across states, reaching out to over 2,50,000 companies. FICCI provides a platform for networking and consensus building within and across sectors and is the first port of call for Indian industry, policymakers and the international business community.

About NATHEALTH: NATHEALTH has been created with the Vision to “Be the credible and unified voice in improving access and quality of healthcare”. Leading Healthcare Service Providers, Medical Technology Providers (Devices, Equipment & IT), Diagnostic Service Providers, Health Insurance companies, Health Education Institutions, Medical Journalism companies, Biotech/Lifesciences related companies, Healthcare Publishers, Healthcare Consultants, Home Healthcare companies, PE & VC companies and other stakeholders have come together to build NATHEALTH as a common platform to create the next level of momentum in Indian Healthcare. NATHEALTH is an inclusive institution that has the representation of small & medium hospitals and nursing homes as well as Healthcare Start-up companies. NATHEALTH is committed to work on its mission to encourage innovation, help bridge the skill and capacity gap, help shape policy & regulations and enable the environment to fund long term growth. NATHEALTH aims to help build a better and healthier future for both rural and urban India.