MANU/PIBU/0583/2019

Department/Board : Press Information Bureau

Date : 04.06.2019

Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program, Signing of $287 Million World Bank loan to improve healthcare in the State of Tamil Nadu

The Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) and the World Bank signed here today in New Delhi a $287 Million Loan Agreement for the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program. The Program aims to improve the quality of health care, reduce the burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), and fill equity gaps in reproductive and child health services in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu ranks third among all Indian States in the NITI Aayog Health Index which is reflected in vastly improved health outcomes. The State's maternal mortality rate has declined from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 62 deaths in 2015-16 while infant mortality has declined from 30 deaths per 1000 live births to 20 in the same period. A key contribution to these achievements has been the establishment of emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Centers and the 108 ambulance service with previous support from the World Bank. These have ensured that no mother has to travel more than 30 minutes to access emergency obstetric and neonatal care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Despite these impressive gains, certain challenges in health care remain, including quality of care and variations in reproductive and child health among districts. Tamil Nadu is also dealing with a growing burden of NCDs as they account for nearly 69 percent of deaths in the State.

The Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program will support the State Government to:

• develop clinical protocols and guidelines;

• achieve national accreditation for primary, secondary, and tertiary-level health facilities in the public sector;

• strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical education;

• strengthen the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other data accessible to the public.

"Tamil Nadu can serve as a model for how to take health system performance to the next level by investing in the public sector and offer lessons to other states. We are happy that the World Bank is helping the state in this journey," said Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.