NITI Aayog announces Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative.

Why in news?

• Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative was announced by ‘Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog in association with the S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

About SAMRIDH Initiative

• This new partnership will improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for vulnerable populations across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, as well as rural and tribal regions.
• USAID, IPE Global, and stakeholders from Indian government, private sector and academia developed the innovative SAMRIDH blended finance facility in 2020, for combining philanthropic and public funds with commercial capital, in a bid to create and rapidly scale market-based health solutions.
• This partnership will enhance SAMRIDH’s efforts for reaching vulnerable populations and leveraging expertise of AIM in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• AIM and SAMRIDH will leverage public sector resources and philanthropic capital for offsetting barriers for commercial investments across small and medium health enterprises for investing in and scale healthcare solutions.
• This collaboration will also focus on innovations across healthcare landscape with a common goal to mount an effective response towards ongoing third wave of COVID-19.
• It will also build health system preparedness for future health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.

Significance of SAMRIDH initiative

• SAMRIDH initiative will help in strengthening India’s health systems with sustainable business innovations and solutions.
• This collaboration will also share the commitment of Atal Innovation Mission and USAID for leveraging innovative financing solutions in order to unlock greater investment in healthcare services.