Guwahati, Dec 13: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $108 million results-based loan to support Mizoram in overhauling its public health care system and advancing towards universal health coverage, in what is being seen as a major reform for the state’s health sector.

The programme—Supporting Public Health Care System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Health Care for Mizoram—seeks to expand equitable access to affordable, high-quality health services for Mizoram’s 1.38 million residents, with a particular emphasis on women, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Central to the initiative is the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS), approved by the state government in 2023. The scheme brings together multiple existing health insurance programmes—earlier operating under different funding and implementation models—into a single framework to widen financial protection, especially for previously uncovered and vulnerable groups.

ADB said the loan will help strengthen the capacity of public health facilities across the state, ensuring they are fully prepared to deliver services under MUHCS. This will involve improving human resources, service readiness and institutional coordination across primary, secondary and tertiary levels to create a seamless continuum of care.

The programme will support the rollout of MUHCS by placing all citizens under one health insurance umbrella through a combination of subsidised and contributory mechanisms. By integrating central and state schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme, into a single cashless and paperless platform, the reform aims to provide free coverage to poor and vulnerable households while improving access to quality health services.

With ADB’s support, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to undertake such a comprehensive restructuring of its universal health care system. Under MUHCS, families are eligible for health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per year. The state will bear the full cost for poor and vulnerable households, while other families will contribute premiums, and government employees will pay a fixed share of their salary.

The programme also addresses key health challenges in the state, including the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and cancer, which together account for more than half of Mizoram’s disease burden. Given the state’s exposure to extreme weather events, climate resilience measures—such as health awareness campaigns and disaster preparedness—will also be integrated 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, ensuring effective implementation of MUHCS and long-term sustainability of the reforms.

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