'Pvt sector support lacking in public health schemes'

New Delhi: Public health programmes are "failing" in India due to the lack of private sector support, a top World Health Organisation (WHO) executive said on Friday while underscoring the "gap" between policy-making and research.

WHO Regional Director (SE Asia) Poonam Khetrapal Singh further observed that research doesn't always translate into policy and very rarely does it focus on preventive health.

"There is a major gap in policy making and research in India. Universal healthcare to the poorest of the poor should be the focus of the government. The public health programmes are failing in India as private sector does not support it," Singh said.

She was speaking at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital during the inauguration of a 'stem cell' producing facility and a 'Department of Research'.

Speaking on the occasion, D S Rana, chairman of the hospital's board of management, expressed hope that the hospital will emerge as a central hub for healthcare delivery system in the country.

"To achieve this goal, a major re-engineering of existing skills and system was undertaken. Thus, the genesis of Department of Research," Rana said.