The Sector Investment Programme, an integral part of the National Family Welfare Programme being implemented by the Department of Family Welfare, Government of India is the largest ever health sector initiative in India. The objective of the EU contribution [ Euro 240 million] is to bring about systemic improvements in the programme rather than implementing a pre-determined set of interventions. The Programme offers the participating States an opportunity to 'earn' untied grant assistance from the GoI in return for committing to and implementing policy change interventions.

The GIS can be applied for a variety of purposes in the health sector with the most commonly known application being disease survellance. A GIS based software can help to 'articulate' systemic abberations / faults in a more comprehensible (and visual) manner.

The most important aspect of the GIS application, however, is that it can be used as a planning tool for better use of existing resources as well as prioritising investment options. All these aspects are mor applicable for management of primary health care which affect the poor in the rural areas more than other users of public health services.