India and ADB to Bolster Pandemic Preparedness | 04 Jul 2024

Source: PIB

Recently, Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 170 million policy-based loan to strengthen India's health system preparedness and response capacity to future pandemics.

The loan will help strengthen India's pandemic preparedness and response capabilities through.
- Strengthened disease surveillance and multisectoral response.
- Strengthened human resources for health.
- Expanded climate-resilient public health infrastructure and innovative service delivery.
The ADB’s program will be aligned with India's National Health Policy 2017, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), National One Health Mission, and efforts to strengthen human resources for health.
- It will set up laboratory networks for infectious disease surveillance at state, union, and metropolitan levels.
- It will build robust data systems to monitor and coordinate national health programs for the poor, women, and other vulnerable groups.
- It will regulate and maintain standards of education, services, and professional conduct of nurses, midwives, allied workers, and doctors.