Yes! Here is a quick update! The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million project to strengthen and improve access to comprehensive primary health care in urban areas in India.
The onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has put pressure and revealed weaknesses in India’s health care system. In response, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PM-ASBY) to strengthen public health systems and respond to future pandemics and other emergencies.
The Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care in Urban Areas Program will support the Ayushman Bharat (the Healthy India Initiative) Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) and PM-ASBY. Thus, to ensure equitable access to quality comprehensive primary health care services in urban areas in 13 states.
The program will benefit an estimated 256 million urban residents, including 51 million from the slum areas of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal.
ADB Principal Social Sector Specialist for South Asia, Gi Soon Song said, “India has made impressive gains in ensuring access to and quality of health services for all. However, COVID-19 has shown us that challenges remain and we need to do more and address these issues. This program aims to meet not only the medical needs of the urban population but also the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the target beneficiaries.”Read more
