Ethical Issues in Community Based Monitoring of Health Programmes: Reflections from India

This paper explores the different sets of power relationships and resultant ethical dilemmas that arise when developing community monitoring systems. Community Based Monitoring and Planning, as part of the Government of India’s strategy to achieve quality health care within the National Rural Health Mission, is used as an exploratory case study. The exploration hopes to benefit and protect the interests of those who are most vulnerable and powerless. The discussions – emerging from a series of conversations between a few community monitoring practitioners in India -- are targeted at a wider community of practitioners who are involved in designing and implementing such programmes. It is hoped that these discussions can be taken further by practitioners and can assist them in ensuring practice which is underlined by a clear set of ethical principles.