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HYDERABAD, INDIA - ADB’s Annual Meeting Program opens on Wednesday with a discussion panel on “Health Investment for Economic Growth: Building Blocks for Pro-Poor Development”. The event is taking place within the Civil Society Open Forum, a venue for NGOs and other civil society organizations to discuss topical development issues and cooperation with ADB.

Discussion panelists will explore how improved health has value that extends beyond the individual level and has shown to have an impact on broader macroeconomic gains. They will also explore how civil society, government, and the international development community can engage in innovative approaches to increase investment in health to achieve economic growth.

Leading the discussion are two prominent health economists and two representatives of international nongovernment organizations:

• Dr. David Evans, Director, Department of Health Systems Financing of the World Health Organization. Dr. Evans leads a range of activities on the development of appropriate health financing strategies and policies and completed extensive research on cost effectiveness and health resource allocation.

• Dr. Indrani Gupta, Head of the Health Policy Research Center at the Institute of Economic Growth in India. Dr. Gupta is a health economist who specializes in health insurance, health financing, and demand for health care.

• Mr. Gopi Gopalakrishnan, Country Director, DKT International in Viet Nam. Mr. Gopalakrishnan has led numerous social marketing and social franchising programs related to family planning, child survival and disease prevention across Africa and Asia, including India.

• Ms. Nemat Hajeebhoy, Health Program Officer, Aga Khan Foundation (Tanzania). Ms. Hajeebhoy’s focus areas include Rural Water and Sanitation and Maternal and Child Health.

Moderator was John Hetherington, of the Regional Office of Population Services International.

The panelists presented their findings in this field, including any lessons from India. They also explored why reinforcing the link between health investment and economic growth is critical to garnering the political will, resources, and necessary partnerships in support of the health-related Millennium Development Goals and other global health priorities.

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