State to get World Bank funds for health project

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 25

India has signed a $100-million financing agreement with the World Bank for the Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project. The objective of the project is to improve access to quality health services, particularly in the hilly districts of the state, and expand health financial risk protection for residents.

The project has two main components— innovations of engaging the private sector stewardship and system improvement. Out of the total project size of $125 million, $25 million will be the counterpart contribution of the state government.

The financing agreement was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry, and Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director, World Bank (India). A project agreement was also signed by Neeraj Kharwal, Additional Secretary (Health), Uttarakhand, and Hisham Abdo.

The planned design of the project consists of multiple self-contained clusters of clinical services managed by operators on a public private partnership (PPP) basis, providing services for free or at nominal charges, backed up by a robust oversight and monitoring mechanism fully integrated with the expanded health insurance programme in the state. It will be concurrent with strengthening the state’s capacity to implement the project. The closing date of Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project is September 30, 2023.