Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 21
A new loan of 10,008 million Japanese Yen (JPY) from the Government of Japan for the establishment of the Medical College Hospital at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) aims to establish a tertiary-level medical service delivery system in the state of Nagaland. It is part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan totaling 232.209 billion JPY or Rs 12,804.28 crore (calculated as per the Reserve Bank of India’s Reference Rate of 55.1700 on February 20) committed by the Government of Japan for nine projects in various sectors in India.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), represented by Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India, signed the loan agreements on February 20 in New Delhi with the exchange of notes with Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
In Nagaland, the project is titled “Project for the Establishment of the Medical College Hospital at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kohima.”
According to the summary of the project available on JICA’s website, the amount for the project is 10,008 JPY or approximately Rs 552.36 crore. The objective of the project is to establish a tertiary-level medical service delivery system in Nagaland by developing a Medical College Hospital and enhancing the system for the development of human resources in healthcare through clinical-based education, its said. Tertiary care refers to the top level of healthcare services, offering highly specialized medical care.
This initiative would contribute to promoting universal health coverage (UHC) and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), it added.
Term & conditions
As per JICA, the loan has an annual interest of 1.60%, along with consulting services of 0.20%. The repayment period is set at 30 years with an additional 10 years grace period. The loan is ‘untied,’ not conditional on investments or procurement of equipment and materials from Japan. The completion of the project is expected by October 2030 or upon the commencement of the provision of hospital services.
The issuing of letters of invitation for consulting services (including construction supervision) will start from February 2024, while the tendering announcement of the initial procurement package for international competitive bidding on project construction will begin by June 2025, the summery added. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, is the executing agency of the project.
The 8 other projects in India are North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 3) (Tranche II): Dhubri-Phulbari bridge (JPY 34.54 billion) & (Phase 7): NH 127B (Phulbari-Goeragre section) (JPY 15.56 billion); Project for Promoting Start-up and Innovation in Telangana (JPY 23.7 billion); Project for the Construction of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Phase 2) (JPY 49.85 billion); Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Haryana (Tranche I) (JPY 16.21 billion); Project for Climate Change Response and ecosystem Services Enhancement in Rajasthan (JPY 26.13 billion); Project for the Improvement of Urban Water Supply System in Uttarakhand (JPY 16.21 billion); and Dedicated Freight Corridor Project (Phase 1) (Tranche V) (JPY 40 billion).
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