Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) Initiative 2022

SAMRIDH stands for Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare. It aims to improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and tribal and rural regions. It will help in strengthening India’s health systems with sustainable business solutions and innovations. 

Why in the News?

In February 2022, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) declared a new partnership under the SAMRIDH initiative. This collaboration will make use of innovative financing solutions to channelise greater investment towards improving healthcare services for the most vulnerable populations. in India.

Since the SAMRIDH initiative has been in the news recently, it is important for the current affairs section of various competitive exams and the Mains and Essay part of the IAS exam.

UPSC Preparation:

SAMRIDH Blended finance Facility

• In 2020, IPE Global, USAID and stakeholders from the Indian government, academia, and the private sector set up the innovative SAMRIDH blended finance facility. 
• The aim of the facility is to combine public and philanthropic funds with commercial capital to create and rapidly scale market-based health solutions.
• Blended financing facilities have the ability to redefine development finance by enabling partnerships that can give access to greater pools of affordable capital for scaling-up businesses that deliver both financial and social returns.

Aim of the SAMRIDH Initiative

• The initiative will further enhance SAMRIDH’s efforts to reach vulnerable populations, by making use of AIM’s expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship. 
• AIM and SAMRIDH will utilize philanthropic capital, and public sector resources to offset barriers for commercial investments in small and medium health enterprises to invest in.
• The collaboration will focus on innovations across the healthcare landscape with the aim to establish an effective response to the ongoing third wave of COVID-19 and build health system preparedness for future health emergencies.
• The initiative will provide both financial and technical support to enterprises that come up with unique propositions to address complex healthcare challenges. 
• The partnership with AIM, NITI Aayog will give a boost to SAMRIDH’s efforts to scale sustainable healthcare models and show innovative financing mechanisms to improve the quality of spending in the healthcare sector.

Benefits of the SAMRIDH Initiative

• The initiative will accelerate the rate of reform in the healthcare sector.
• It will help in increasing investments in the healthcare sector.
• Ensure that all have access to affordable and quality healthcare services. 
• It will give a boost to healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship using innovative financing opportunities like blended finance.
• It will enable increased private capital flows to fill the current financing gap in the health sector.

Atal Innovation Mission and SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility Issue a Call for Proposals

• The AIM and SAMRIDH healthcare blended  finance facility has issued a call for proposals, which will focus on seeking solutions from innovators and entrepreneurs on a range of topics including:
  •  Solutions to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure
  •  Improve diagnostic products and services
  •  Build the capacity of healthcare workers
  • Strategies for communication and behaviour change
• It will also focus on mental health solutions, with an emphasis on support for healthcare providers and patients recovering from adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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