SAMRIDH: Leveraging Blended Finance for Quality Healthcare in India

India faces significant challenges in its healthcare system, primarily due to chronic underfunding. The government allocates approximately 1.9% of its GDP to public health, starkly lower than the global average of about 10%. This shortfall has resulted in inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled workforce, and an overreliance on overstretched public facilities.

- U Upender

Introduction

The Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative represents a transformative approach to healthcare financing in India. Launched in response to the urgent need for improved access to quality healthcare, SAMRIDH employs blended finance-combining public, private, and philanthropic resources-to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, especially for the socioeconomically vulnerable populations.

The Social Challenge: Access to Quality Health Care

India faces significant challenges in its healthcare system, primarily due to chronic underfunding. The government allocates approximately 1.9% of its GDP to public health, starkly lower than the global average of about 10%. This shortfall has resulted in inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skilled workforce, and an overreliance on overstretched public facilities. Vulnerable populations, including low-income and marginalized communities, often find themselves without access to affordable and quality care, leading to poor health outcomes and substantial out-of-pocket expenses.

The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges, pushing the healthcare system to its limits and revealing the pressing need for sustainable healthcare solutions. Despite government and private sector efforts to improve healthcare delivery, it is estimated that India requires an additional investment of $245 billion by 2034 to meet its healthcare needs, with $156 billion specifically needed for advancing technology adoption and preventive health care.

The Partnership: SAMRIDH Blended Finance Facility