An Institutional Perspective on Provision of Primary Health Care in India and Bangladesh

Primary health care is a public sector responsibility in most countries, and it is a challenging task for any government to ensure its universal access and good quality. The problems arise not only due to lack of financial resources but also poor organization and management at different levels of service delivery. This volume, taking examples from India and Bangladesh, investigates the role of the central government in delegating the responsibility of primary health care services to local-level bureaucracy and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). It also emphasizes the importance of social accountability/client participation in improving the quality of care in which both India and Bangladesh have poor records.