IWAI hands over Kalughat Intermodal Terminal to PPP Operator (See 'Corp Brief') Chouhan addresses conference of 20,000 farmers in Maharashtra (See 'Corp Brief') India, Bhutan unite in Prayer: Buddha Relics for Global Healing at Thimpu Festival (See 'Corp Brief') NPG evaluates projects from Ministries of Road, Highways & Railways (See 'Corp Brief') PitchX @ ESTIC 2025 Ignites India's DeepTech Future (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Unfair advantage of reputation and goodwill amassed by plaintiff's marks, calls for passing off against defendant: HC (See 'Legal Desk') DGT, Autodesk join hands to enhance Skills for India's Vocational Workforce (See 'Corp Brief') FERA - If exporter chose to realise export proceeds in the Indian Currency, then he had to ensure that export is made within bilateral framework of trade: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') Textiles Mission supports development of Indigenous Thermal Testing Instruments (See 'Corp Brief') Benami - Even if there are cash infusions into bank accounts of alleged benamidar, no provisional attachment can be made in absence of evidence to show that such infusions are made by beneficial owner: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') Ministry of Tourism participates in World Travel Market (See 'Corp Brief') DoT leads thematic session on India's telecom innovation (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Refusal of registration is contingent upon existence of 'likelihood of confusion': HC (See 'Legal Desk') Startup supported by DST demonstrates 500 km Quantum-Safe Network (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Law - Dominance alone does not constitute abuse u/s 4 and competition law will intervene in digital platforms only where market-wide harm, exclusionary conduct, or unfair leveraging is evident: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') MOIL achieves best-ever October Production since Inception (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Law - Back interest charges stemmed from internal bank error constituted contractual dispute and not competition law concern: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') MoS tells NRI scientists - 'You are not outsiders' (See 'Corp Brief') No Blanket cancellations of REIA-Awarded Projects: Govt (See 'Corp Brief') India, Israel ink MoU for co-development & co-production of advanced defence tech (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - CJM's role under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act is limited to ministerial functions and does not involve adjudication: HC (See 'Legal Desk') EPFO, NITI Aayog organize Seminar on Social Security in Electronic Industry (See 'Corp Brief') MeitY generates Rs 41 lakh Scrap Revenue (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Use of essential element in competing marks creates a likelihood of confusion, and continued registration of impugned mark is not permitted: HC (See 'Legal Desk') India strengthens global partnerships with Mauritius and UNESCAP in Doha (See 'Corp Brief') DRDO leads thematic session on 'Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing' (See 'Corp Brief') PMLA - As per settled precedent, property of equivalent value to proceeds of crime can be attached, even if Appellant is not accused in scheduled offence: SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal (See 'Legal Desk') Scindia hails growth of Indo-French ties at Indo-French North-East Investment Forum (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - Court under Order IX Rule 26 has power to appoint Local Commissioner to ascertain market value of any property, or amount of mesne profits or damages: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Scindia confers Bharat Ratna Hazarika National Awards (See 'Corp Brief') Controller General of Accounts inaugurates Delhi circle Pension Campaign (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Law - Mere dissatisfaction with tender terms or with rejection of bid cannot lead to presumption of imposition of unfair or discriminatory conditions and abuse of dominance: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Coal India Celebrates 50 Glorious Years of Nation Building (See 'Corp Brief') Scindia lays bricks for Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit (See 'Corp Brief') Naidu inaugurates creche facility at Udaan Bhawan (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Mere expiry of trademark registration does not, by itself, justify removal from Register, and such removal must be preceded by strict compliance with mandatory requirement of issuing a Form O-3 notice: HC (See 'Legal Desk') GeM organises Session on 'Compliance with Law in Public Procurement' (See 'Corp Brief') MoSPI signs MoU with IICA to develop SDG Alignment Framework (See 'Corp Brief') India's emphasis on overflight in Indo-Pacific is not against any country: RM (See 'Corp Brief') FEMA - Inward remittances labelled 'grants' may be treated as capital account transactions if there are contingent liabilities or obligations that convert them into capital in substance: SAFEMA (See 'Legal Desk') Government intervention and Corporate governance (See CORP EINSICHT)

India, ADB sign USD 300 mn loan to improve primary healthcare in India

Published: Nov 24, 2021

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 24, 2021: THE Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday signed a USD 300 million loan to strengthen and improve access to comprehensive primary health care in urban areas of 13 states that will benefit over 256 million urban dwellers including 51 million from slum areas.

Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, signed for the Government of India the agreement for Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care and pandemic preparedness in Urban Areas Program while Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission, signed for ADB.

After signing the loan agreement, Mr Mishra said that the programme supports the Government of India's key health initiatives - Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PM-ASBY) - which has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) - by expanding availability and access to quality primary health care services particularly for vulnerable populations in urban areas.

Ayushman Bharat programme, launched in 2018, aims to improve access to comprehensive primary health care as a key strategy to achieve universal health coverage in India. With the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that put additional pressure on the country's health system, the government launched PM-ASBY later renamed as PM-ABHIM in October 2021 to adopt a long-term approach to system strengthening to prepare for future pandemics and other emergencies.

"Ensuring equitable access to non-COVID-19 primary health care is critical amid challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic to India's health system," said Konishi. "The programme complements the government's efforts to bridge the health care gaps by strengthening institutional capacity, operation, and management of urban health and wellness centers at the central, state, and municipal levels."

The programme will be implemented in urban areas across 13 states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal. Beside the pandemic response, interventions through the program promote increased utilization of urban HWCs with provision of comprehensive primary health care packages including non-communicable diseases and community outreach services such as awareness raising activities on health care options, particularly for women. Delivery and health information systems for primary health care will be upgraded through digital tools, quality assurance mechanisms, and engagement and partnership with the private sector.

The programme is supported by a USD 2 million technical assistance grant from ADB's Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to provide support for programme implementation and coordination, capacity building, innovation, knowledge sharing and application of scalable best practices across the healthcare system.

TIOL CORP SEARCH

TIOL GROUP WEBSITES