India, World Bank sign agreement for Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project

New Delhi [India], Mar 25 : India and World Bank on Saturday signed a financing agreement for IDA credit of USD 100 (equivalent) for the "Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project".

The Financing Agreement was signed under the presence of Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of India and Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank.

A Project Agreement was also signed by Dr. Neeraj Kharwal, Additional Secretary (Health), Government of Uttarakhand and Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director, World Bank.

The objective of the project is to improve access to quality health services, particularly in the hilly districts of the State, and to expand health financial risk protection for residents of the State.

It will benefit the residents of hilly districts in particular with two main

components including innovations of engaging the private sector; and stewardship and system improvement.

The international financial institution aims to contribute USD 25 million to the State Government out of the total project size of USD 125 million.

The planned design of the project consists of multiple self-contained clusters of clinical services managed by operators on a 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 program in the State. This will be concurrent with strengthening the state's capacity to implement the project. (ANI)