Aizawl: The Mizoram government will soon sign a USD 108 million (around Rs 980 crore) loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to strengthen the state’s public healthcare system.
Health Minister Lalrinpuii said on Tuesday that the ADB approved the loan earlier this month under the project titled “Supporting Public Healthcare System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Healthcare for Mizoram.”
She said the Centre will repay 90 per cent of the loan amount, while the Mizoram government will repay the remaining 10 per cent over 15 years.
Although the ADB has cleared the loan, the government will sign the agreement once the Union Ministry of Finance finalises the date, Lalrinpuii said.
She said central repayment of most of the loan will significantly reduce the state’s expenditure on implementing the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS).
Once the agreement is signed, the state expects to receive an initial release of Rs 21 crore within a month under the Disbursement Linked Indicator.
The Zoram People’s Movement government, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, launched the MUHCS in March.
The scheme provides cashless treatment cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per financial year at government hospitals and empanelled private and church-run hospitals. The scheme became operational in April.
Mizoram Health Care Society CEO Lalhriatzuali Ralte said 65,193 families have registered under MUHCS in the current financial year.
The figure includes 36,323 families of government employees and 8,733 families of civil pensioners.
She said more than 2.20 lakh families registered under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana are also eligible to avail MUHCS benefits.
Lalrinpuii said 59,602 beneficiaries have already received treatment under the scheme. The government has spent over Rs 100 crore on healthcare expenses under MUHCS so far, she said.
She said 68.56 per cent of patients received treatment at state-run hospitals, which accounted for 43.47 per cent of total healthcare expenditure.
The minister said the government continues to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and manpower across the state. She said the Zoram Medical College and Hospital has been upgraded to 520 beds with 40 cabins.
The state has increased ICU facilities from 13 to 26 units at the hospital, she added. The government is also upgrading Aizawl Civil Hospital under the Aizawl Smart City project.
Lalrinpuii said authorities have completed an operation theatre at Aizawl Civil Hospital and will soon begin kidney transplant procedures.
She said nephrologists and healthcare workers will undergo training at a hospital in Kolkata in January, after which the civil hospital will conduct kidney transplants.
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