India sacks some foreign-funded consultants; health programs may suffer

By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is firing dozens of foreign-funded health experts working inside the government, seen as part of a broader clampdown to reduce the influence of non-government organizations (NGOs) on policy. A shortage of technical experts has for years forced India to turn to the World Health Organization (WHO) and aid groups like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to manage large-scale public health schemes. Of the nearly 140 people who run India's HIV/AIDS program, 112 are consultants seconded from foreign organizations.