Policy gaps deter nutrition investment

Policy inconsistency and weak coordination between state agencies are holding private firms back from a larger role in nutrition, participants said on Wednesday, though the public sector cannot meet the need alone. Dawn reported that the remarks came from a session on drawing private money into nutrition at the Act For Nutrition conference. Participants stressed the need for greater private involvement in tackling nutrition problems nationwide.

Noor Aftab of Tetra Pak argued that food systems deserve status as critical infrastructure, and noted that Pakistan is a major milk producer without safe-milk or pasteurisation laws. He also pointed out that packed milk carries 18 per cent GST, a rate he described as among the world's highest. A Bangladesh case study presented by Reza Sumon showed workforce anaemia fell from 51.9pc to 32pc after fortification and iron tablets, and absenteeism dropped from 70pc to 40pc after $10 million of private nutrition investment.

One speaker proposed tax credits for fortification and lower import duty on fortification, while the planning ministry's nutrition chief said provinces had policies and federal strategies but no multisectoral programmes on the ground. The Asian Development Bank has reportedly earmarked roughly half of a $960m fund for stunting. A Gates Foundation official cited World Bank figures suggesting that each dollar governments spend on nutrition could bring returns of up to $23 in economic returns.