India’s health sector: The Government of India and the World Bank signed two complimentary loans of USD 500 million each to assist and strengthen the development of India’s health sector.

According to a World Bank statement on March 3, this combined financing of USD 1 billion would help India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which will be launched in October 2021 to upgrade the country’s public healthcare infrastructure. According to the statement, one of the loans will focus health care delivery in seven states, including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, in addition to national-level interventions.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Government of India by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Auguste Tano Kouame, Country Director, India, World Bank.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for worldwide pandemic preparedness and health system improvement, and served as a sharp reminder that pandemic preparedness is a global public benefit,” said Auguste Tano Kouame.

“The two projects are helping India’s determination to strengthen the country’s health systems’ resilience and preparedness for future pandemics. This will help the inhabitants of the states participating in the initiatives and will have a favourable spillover effect on other states “Kouame elaborated.

India’s health performance has improved over time. According to World Bank forecasts, India’s life expectancy is greater than the average for the country’s income level, at 69.8 in 2020, up from 58 in 1990.