Launch

Merrygold Health Service Network Launched

The network aims at providing health services at 50-60 per cent of the private sector prices

State Innovations in Family Planning Project Services Agency (SIFPSA), Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT), announced the launch of Merrygold Health Network at Lucknow, recently. The Chief Secretary, Government of UP, PK Mishra along with George Deikun, Mission Director, USAID inaugurated the launch programme and unveiled the identity of the Merrygold Health Network.

"Merrygold Health Network is an innovative social franchising programme in India to provide essential healthcare services to the poorer sections in the society. The programme is being implemented through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in an endeavor to make healthcare services accessible for the underprivileged," said AK Misra, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of UP.

USAID and State Innovations in Family Planning Project Service Agency (SIFPSA) have developed an innovative social franchising programme through consultations with various national and international experts. George Deikun, Mission Director, USAID, said, "We are committed to improving the health of families in UP. I commend the Government of UP and the private sectors for taking this step."

HLFPPT will be developing, managing and sustaining Merrygold Health Network. The Merrygold Network will provide high quality maternal and child health services at affordable prices.

This network will comprise seventy 20-bed Merrygold Hospitals, 700 Merrysilver clinics and 10,000 Merrytarang Ayush partners. This network of providers will provide varied package of services at affordable prices. "This programme will initially be launched in six districts in the first year, and subsequently scaled up to 40 districts in the second year, and shall cover all districts of UP by the third year," said M Ayyapan, Chairman, HLFPPT.

The Merrysilver clinic will provide basic obstetric care, family planning services, counseling and immunisation services. The Merry AYUSH will provide health counseling, condoms, oral contraceptives, oral dehydration salts and iron and folic acid tablets. This network will aim at providing the health services at 50-60 per cent of the private sector prices. The specialisation on obstetrics and high volume will ensure that hospital could offer sub-market prices and become sustainable.

EH News Bureau