On December 8, 2020, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved USD 300 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) loan for Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care in Urban Areas Program in India. In addition to the loan, a $2 million technical assistance grant was also provided from ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to provide technical support for program implementation.
Aim: The program involving all levels of governance viz. Central, State, and Municipal will strengthen, upgrade, and increase the number of functional health and wellness centers in 13 states. It also aims to address COVID-19 challenges and to ensure equitable access and continuous provision of nonCOVID-19 health services.
- The program will support the Ayushman Bharat (the Healthy India initiative) Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) and Pradhan Mantri – Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PM-ASBY).
- The 13 states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal.
Key Points:
–It will conduct awareness and education campaigns on health and nutrition, including preventive measures and strategies.
–It will also look after the physical and mental health and wellbeing of beneficiaries.
–It will benefit an estimated 256 million urban residents. , including 51 million from the slum
Reason behind the Program:
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that the Indian healthcare system is lacking behind even after the initiation of favorable schemes by the Government. Taking this into consideration India launched Rs 65,560.98 crore PM-ASBY in September 2020. Now in order to support it, the ADB funded above mentioned program was launched.
Recent Related News:
i.On November 3, 2020 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 132.8 million loan to Modernize Power Distribution Network in Meghalaya to improve power quality and upgrade the power distribution network in Meghalaya.
ii.On September 25, 2020, ADB approved two loans worth USD 570 million (about Rs 4,200 crore) for urban sector projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
Establishment– 1966
President– Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters– Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
Membership– 68 countries (Including India)
