GBC Health report presents a snapshot of health-related corporate investments in India, with a focus on business action on the MDGs. Based on survey findings from 23 leading Indian and multinational companies, the report documents the key characteristics of health CSR programs and provides an informative look at how participating companies are currently investing their CSR dollars, their priority health focus areas, preferred partnership strategies, drivers and future investment priorities. The report also offers suggested action areas for business, in light of recent government legislation requiring companies operating in India to invest 2% of profits into CSR activities, as well as in the final year of the MDGs, and in the transition to the Post-2015 agenda.
Key Findings
- Most companies invest CSR rupees to provide health services to a target population through an intermediary like an NGO (36 percent) or directly through an entity like a company-run clinic (23 percent).
- Surveyed companies are currently focusing investments on the health issues prioritized by the Government of India and consistent with the MDGs. Their programmes most frequently address child health (65 percent), maternal health (57 percent) and newborn health (48 percent), followed by water (48 percent), nutrition (43 percent) and sanitation (39 percent). Companies expect to increase spending in all these areas in the coming year.
- More than half of surveyed companies (52 percent) invest CSR funds in the communities where they operate, resulting in underinvestment in states and districts with a low business presence.
