The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $170 million policy-based loan today to enhance India’s health system preparedness and response capabilities against future pandemics.
Ms. Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, represented the Government of India, while Ms. Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, signed on behalf of ADB.
Ms. Mukherjee highlighted that the ADB program builds on the government’s COVID-19 response efforts, aiming to further strengthen disease surveillance, ensure quality health professionals, and promote climate-resilient public health infrastructure and services.
Ms. Oka emphasized the program’s role in supporting India’s health system transformation through policy, legislative, and institutional improvements. It aligns with India’s objectives of universal access to affordable healthcare and enhanced pandemic readiness.
The initiative, titled ‘Strengthened and Measurable Actions for Resilient and Transformative Health Systems Programme (Subprogramme 1)’, integrates with key national plans including the National Health Policy 2017 and initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission and National One Health Mission.
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