Nepal secures $100 million World Bank loan for health system enhancement

November 3, Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal and the World Bank have digitally signed financing agreements for a $100 million concessional loan from the International Development Association. Additionally, a $3.84 million grant from the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund was exchanged to bolster the quality, coverage, and resilience of Nepal’s healthcare system.

The groundbreaking agreements, signed on October 27, 2023, mark the first World Bank-financed project in Nepal to undergo digital signing, as reported by the World Bank Nepal office. Finance Secretary Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar and Faris Hadad-Zervos, the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, inked the Nepal Quality Health Systems Program Operation agreements.

The exchange ceremony, held in the presence of Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, saw the participation of Anna Bjerde, World Bank Managing Director for Operations, and Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia.

Implemented by the Ministry of Health and Population in coordination with the Health Insurance Board at the federal level, the program will focus on Koshi and Gandaki provinces at provincial and local levels. The initiative aims to enhance the healthcare system’s readiness, expand health insurance coverage, and fortify health emergency preparedness and response capabilities in the specified regions, according to the statement.