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Advocacy for appropriate health policy and effective governance of the health system

Voluntary Health Association of India, vhai{at}vsnl.com

Health policies supported by sustained advocacy efforts need to continually grow and develop to respond to the increasing pressures of macro-economic policies of globalization, liberalization and privatization. VHAI, the largest network of voluntary agencies in health sector is playing a critical role at both macro and micro levels. Its health advocacy efforts emerge from the grassroots with an understanding of their health and development problems as well as the strategies adopted to address them. The process, of strengthening an upward mobilization of information, towards formulation of an effective health policy, is backed by serious macro research on various policy dimensions of health, done by the Independent Commission on Health and Development in India (ICDHI), set up in 1995 by VHAI. These key policy documents are both reflective and prescriptive and are presented to the highest state authorities along with a discussion at various levels with varies groups. One of the recent successes was at getting the giant tobacco companies withdraw from Cricket sponsorship with an association in the formulation of a comprehensive Bill by the Union Government to prevent this in future. Various well-researched policy documents have been put together by the organisation based on its micro and macro level work and persistent advocacy. Appropriate public health and development policies with their effective implementation are the cornerstones to realize the fundamental values of Alma-Ata. The health care system needs to be removed from the current bio-medical model and closer to a socio-political and spiritual model where health care again becomes an organic part of community care as it once was in the traditional society. (Promotion & Education, 2007, (2): pp 88-89)

Key Words: advocacy • state health policies • grassroots.

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