ADB approves $108 million loan to strengthen Mizoram’s public health system

Guwahati: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $108 million results-based loan to help Mizoram strengthen its public health care system and move towards universal health coverage, marking a major reform in the state’s health sector.

The programme, Supporting Public Health Care System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Health Care for Mizoram, aims to improve equitable access to affordable and high-quality health services for the state’s 1.38 million residents, with a special focus on women, older persons, and people with disabilities.

At the core of the initiative is the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS), approved by the state government in 2023.

The scheme consolidates multiple existing health insurance programmes, previously operating with different funding sources and implementation mechanisms, under a single framework to expand financial health protection, particularly for uncovered and vulnerable populations.

ADB said the loan will support Mizoram in strengthening the capacity of its public health facilities so they are fully equipped to deliver services under MUHCS.

This includes improving human resources, service readiness, and institutional linkages across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care to ensure a seamless continuum of treatment.

“This programme will help the state roll out its new Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme, which brings all citizens under one health insurance umbrella through a mix of subsidised and contributory mechanisms,” said ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka.

By integrating central and state schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme, into a single cashless and paperless platform, the programme seeks to ensure free coverage for poor and vulnerable households while improving access to quality care.

With ADB’s support, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to undertake this kind of comprehensive reform in its universal health care system.

Under MUHCS, families are eligible for health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year, with the full cost borne by the state for poor and vulnerable households.

Other families will contribute a premium, while government employees will pay a fixed proportion of their salary.

The programme also targets some of Mizoram’s most pressing health challenges, including high rates of non-communicable diseases and cancer, which together account for over 50 per cent of the state’s disease burden.

Given the state’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, the government will integrate climate adaptation measures, including health awareness initiatives and disaster preparedness, into service delivery.

In addition, the initiative will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, primary health care units, and the Mizoram State Health Care Society, which are responsible for implementing MUHCS, ensuring long-term sustainability of the reform.