JICA extends Rs 1,548 Cr loan for healthcare project in TN

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Centre to provide 25,537 million Japanese Yen (about Rs 1,548 crore) as financial assistance to develop urban healthcare services in Tamil Nadu.
The Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan was aimed at improving the quality of urban healthcare services in Tamil Nadu, according to a press release.
The loan offers 0.3 per cent interest rate and 40 years of repayment period including 10 year grace period, the release said, adding, the assistance would strengthen the capacity of key hospitals with upgradation of facilities and equipment and human resources.
The project is planned to be implemented in 17 cities with major components -- upgrading tertiary hospitals, strengthening referral hospitals, secondary care hospitals, hospital management and primary health care.

The cities are Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Tirunelveli, Erode, Vellore, Tiruppur, Thoothukudi, Nagercoil, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Krishnagiri and Periyakulam.
"JICA promotes development of socio-economic and human resources infrastructure which directly supports improving life-expectancy and enhancing people's quality of life.

"Through this project, JICA will contribute to provide easier access to advanced healthcare services in urban areas and promote healthy lifestyle in Tamil Nadu," JICA India Office, Chief Representative, Takema Sakamoto said.
JICA has extended 3,37,796 million Japanese Yen (about Rs 19,870 crore) through ODA loans since 1981 for comprehensive development efforts of Tamil Nadu.
The initiatives include Chennai Metro project, Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme, power transmission system and provision of safe water supply, it said.