Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of NGO Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), a public-private initiative, thus rendering it incapable of receiving foreign fund until all the issues raised by the MHA with PHFI are resolved.
“MHA in its observations has noted that funds meant for HIV control were used in anti-tobacco activities by PHFI. These funds were provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF),” said a senior official.
The notification is related to Rs 43 crore grant which was sanctioned for PHFI’s projects by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and provided by BMGF. “The entire fund that was sanctioned was approved by MoHFW. We cannot use a single rupee without the government’s sanction. That the fund should be used for a specific purpose had been sanctioned and approved by the government,” said the spokesperson of PHFI.
He further added that, “Certain observations were made by MHA on utilisation of funds related to PHFI’s projects on tobacco, HIV/AIDS and it’s financial reports. We have submitted all documents of fund usage to MHA and provided the needed clarifications. We are seeking continuation of FCRA registration, based on clarifications provided.”
The decision comes close on the heels of Swadeshi Jagran Manch submitting a white paper to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, questioning BMGF’s influence on India’s health policies.
Founded by ex-PM Manmohan Singh in 2006, PHFI provides technical assistance to centre and state governments in HIV prevention, access to drugs, tobacco control, immunization, environmental health, universal health coverage, public health cadre development and capacity building of primary health care physicians, most of the activities carried out in partnership with MoHFW.
