Gujarat gets over Rs 2.8K-crore loan from World Bank for health care

The World Bank on Thursday said it has approved a USD 350 million (over Rs 2,832 crore) loan to Gujarat for spending towards public healthcare services, focussed specially on adolescent girls and disease surveillance.

The World Bank's Executive Board of Directors approved the USD 350 million loan to the state, the multilateral funding agency said.

The funding will come from World Bank arm International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), carrying a maturity of 18 years including a grace period of 5.5 years.

The loan will be utilised through the state government's Systems Reform Endeavours For Transformed Health Achievement In Gujarat (SRESTHA-G) Programme. It will enable more people access a wider range of high-quality health services, the World Bank said.

Gujarat currently delivers seven health services to its citizens, including reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The World Bank funding will