\nThe Economic Times<\/p>\n
![\"Gates](\"https:\/\/img.etimg.com\/thumb\/msid-57028700,width-300,imgsize-232127,resizemode-4\/centre-shuts-health-mission-gate-on-bill-melinda-gates-foundation.jpg\" "\\"Gates")
NEW DELHI: The Centre has shut the gate on the Bill and\u00a0Melinda Gates<\/a>\u00a0Foundation on a critical national health mission, and possible conflict of interest issues arising from the foundation\u2019s \u201cties\u201d with pharmaceutical companies is one of the reasons.<\/p>\n All financial ties of the country\u2019s apex immunisation advisory body,\u00a0National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization<\/a>\u00a0(NTAGI<\/a>), with the Gates Foundation have been cut off.<\/p>\n NTAGI Secretariat will be now fully funded by the central government, the health ministry confirmed to ET. NTAGI\u2019s Secretariat was so far being serviced through the Gates Foundation-funded\u00a0Immunization Technical Support Unit<\/a>\u00a0(ITSU) at the\u00a0Public Health Foundation of India<\/a>\u00a0(PHFI).<\/p>\n ET has learnt that the government\u2019s decision was informed by, among other factors, arguments from senior medical professionals and outfits like Swadeshi Jagran Manch.<\/p>\n Concerns raised by members of the steering group of the National Health Mission and the Sangh-affiliated outfit centred around \u201cconflict of interest issues\u201d in the NTAGI-Gates Foundation relationship.<\/p>\n Influence on vaccination strategy<\/strong> The study, called \u2018Philanthropic Power and Development -Who shapes the agenda?\u2019, had cautioned on \u201cthe growing influence of the large global philanthropic foundations, especially the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on political discourse and agenda-setting in targeted fields, and fully analyze the risks and side effects \u2014 intended and unintended \u2014 of these activities on sustainable development\u201d.<\/p>\n Gates Foundation spokesperson Sunil Raman confirmed that the NTAGI Secretariat had shifted out of ITSU. NTAGI member NK Arora and PHFI also confirmed the development.<\/p>\n Members of the steering group aren\u2019t authorised to speak to the media. Swadeshi Jagran Manch\u2019s national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan told ET, \u201cWe welcome this move by the government.<\/p>\n We have always said foreign influence in our domestic policies in any way must be avoided.\u201d NTAGI will now be moved out to the fully government-funded National Institute of Family Health and Welfare (NIFHW).<\/p>\n NTAGI is crucial to India\u2019s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) \u2014 the nationwide rollout of the pentavalent vaccine and the introduction of vaccines against rotavirus, IPV and rubella.<\/p>\n UIP is one of the world\u2019s largest immunisation programmes. It caters to approximately 27 million infants and 30 million pregnant women annually free of cost.<\/p>\n Future course<\/strong> Raman told ET that \u201cthe next phase of association has not been decided\u201d. NTAGI, set up in 2001, is chaired by the health secretary and has on board a number of independent health experts, representatives from organisations such as the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Indian Medical Association, World Health Organization and UNICEF besides stakeholder ministries.<\/p>\n
\nThere were questions about the Gates Foundation\u2019s ties with pharmaceutical companies and the possible influence this may have on the country\u2019s vaccination strategy. Global Policy Forum, an independent policy watchdog that seeks to promote accountability in international organisations, raised some of these concerns in a study in December 2015.<\/p>\n![\"Centre](\"https:\/\/img.etimg.com\/photo\/57028702\/untitled-24.jpg\" "\\"Centre")
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\nThe Gates Foundation-ITSU relationship formally ends on February 28. Discussions are now on between the health ministry, the Gates Foundation and PHFI on the future role of ITSU.<\/p>\n