India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $170 million policy-based loan agreement aimed at bolstering India’s preparedness and response capabilities for future pandemics. The initiative, named the ‘Strengthened and Measurable Actions for Resilient and Transformative Health Systems Programme,’ was formalized by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, representing the Indian government, and Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission.
Mukherjee emphasized that the Indian government had already implemented several measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance its preparedness and response mechanisms. She further explained that the ADB programme would support these ongoing efforts by improving disease surveillance, ensuring the quality and adequacy of health professionals, and promoting climate-resilient public health infrastructure and service delivery.
Oka highlighted that the programme builds on the existing partnership between ADB and the Indian government to strengthen the health system and adopt transformative solutions. Through this policy-based loan, ADB aims to assist the government in addressing gaps in policy, legislative, and institutional governance, thereby contributing to India’s goal of providing universal access to quality and affordable healthcare services and enhancing pandemic preparedness and response.
The programme aligns with several major government plans and initiatives, including the National Health Policy 2017, the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the National One Health Mission, and efforts to strengthen human resources for health (HRH). Key reforms targeted by the programme include enhanced disease surveillance and multisectoral response, improved human resources for health, and expanded climate-resilient public health infrastructure and innovative service delivery.
The initiative aims to enhance disease surveillance systems by establishing laboratory networks for infectious disease surveillance at various levels and developing robust data systems to monitor and coordinate national health programmes for vulnerable groups. It also seeks to improve governance of India’s One Health approach and its multisectoral response to emerging infectious diseases.
As reported by ddnews.gov.in, ADB will support policy reforms to ensure the availability of competent health professionals and workers, including legislation to regulate and maintain standards of education, services, and professional conduct for nurses, midwives, allied workers, and doctors. The programme will manage integrated public health laboratories in five states and district critical care hospital blocks to enhance services for infectious diseases and critical illnesses. Additionally, it will facilitate the establishment of green and climate-resilient healthcare facilities and support innovative solutions for service delivery.