Jamshedpur, Feb. 3: Two non-government organisations have recommended against the privatisation of primary healthcare services, as part of a two-day workshop on women’s’ health.

After a brainstorming session at a workshop on “Jharkhand Population Policy and Women’s Health and Development” held here in the city, two NGOs —Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation (TSFIF) and the Lucknow-based Health Watch strongly recommended the state government not to privatise the primary healthcare service.

This would be sent along with other recommendations to the state health ministry to be considered while framing the Jharkhand population policy, which is still in a draft stage.

The report suggested that the primary health care should be kept out of the gambit of privatisation, as it would be expensive and unaffordable for people at the grassroots level.

According to the report, “It is the mandatory for the government, according to the rules laid down by National Population Policy, to provide primary health care service free of cost to all men and women.”

Sources in the health ministry added that the state policy on population and health is in a draft stage under a US-based agency, Futures International.

Officials of TSFIF said the recommendations are being made keeping the people’s priorities in mind.

The health care system in the state has been slack in addressing problems largely due to insufficient recognition of women’s larger reproductive health concerns and problems that may or may not be related to her reproductive functions as a child bearer, says the report.