The Technical Assistance Support Team supports the Government of West Bengal’s Department of Health and Family Welfare’s health reform and investment programme – the Health Systems Development Initiative.

Health Systems Development Initiative, a government programme which aims to improve the health status and outcomes of the people of West Bengal, especially the poor and those in greatest need, through the strengthening of public health system and the improvement of public regulation of private provision.

The programme aims to:

• Reduce by about a third the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate
• Increase the proportion of institutional deliveries, especially in the six poorest performing districts
• Significantly increase the coverage of child immunisation
• Reduce the share of disease burden from communicable/maternal/neonatal factors.

The Technical Assistance Support Team (TAST), works with the Department of Health and Family Welfare towards achieving the agreed milestones of the Health Systems Development Initiative. TAST procures consulting services for a spread of technical assistance in support of these milestones.

TAST works on eight key elements of reform:

1. strategic and policy framework
2. organisation and management systems
3. health financing
4. access and demand for services
5. involving the private sector
6. assets and supply management
7. procurement and financial management systems
8. maternal and child health priorities.

The programme has recently expanded to include development of the nutrition service. TAST now also works with the Department of Women and Child Development to improve access, quality and the reach of nutrition programmes in West Bengal. TAST has helped the Department of Women and Child Development to develop a 10 year nutrition strategy, a five-year rolling financial plan and is working to develop institutional mechanisms for implementation. TAST has a budget of £1.6 M and is supported by the Department for International Development.

To learn more about the Technical Assistance Support Team in West Bengal, go to the website at www.wbtast.org or contact Abdul Rahim on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Melissa Cole on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .