Page 22 - Banking Finance March 2025

ARTICLE

drive greater resources towards market-based health into fuel and developing waterless hygiene products. These
solutions that can improve access to affordable and quality efforts demonstrate a holistic approach to health that
healthcare services for India's most vulnerable people. considers environmental impacts alongside social equity.

Tis initiative's immediate goal is to bridge supply-side gaps Challenges and Facilitators
in emergency health services while its long-term vision seeks
to strengthen comprehensive healthcare for approximately Despite its successes, SAMRIDH faces several challenges.
540 million socioeconomically vulnerable individuals. Key Awareness of blended finance applications among
objectives include identifying sustainable business models, healthcare enterprises is low, and many lack the managerial
capabilities to explore new funding avenues. There is also
mobilizing grant and debt commitments, reducing out-of-
limited knowledge regarding the importance of measuring
pocket expenses for underserved communities, and
promoting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and communicating impact, hindering the scalability of
principles in investment decisions. blended finance solutions.

The Impact of SAMRIDH To address these challenges, SAMRIDH employs a LEGO
approach (Living Engineering Process), using various financial
In its first two years, SAMRIDH mobilized nearly $300 million building blocks to achieve desired outcomes. The initiative
in funding, improving healthcare access for over 25 million fosters collaboration among stakeholders, ensuring a robust
individuals across 28 states. Leveraging an initial grant of governance structure that includes an Advisory Committee
$12 million, SAMRIDH facilitated $100 million in commercial of experts to oversee funding disbursement and ensure
investments and provided capacity building for over 17,000 sustainability.
healthcare professionals. The initiative deployed health
solutions in over 1,000 medical facilities, enhancing service
delivery and directly serving more than 5.2 million Future Directions and Lessons Learned
vulnerable individuals. The blended finance market in India is expanding, attracting
diverse capital to enhance healthcare financing. SAMRIDH
SAMRIDH's innovative approach highlights the potential of aims to improve healthcare access, particularly for
blended finance to address healthcare financing gaps vulnerable populations, and provides early-stage
effectively. This model can be a blueprint for other nations organizations access to affordable commercial capital. The
seeking to enhance their healthcare systems while achieving initiative has garnered recognition, being awarded the 2022
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). P3 Impact Award, reflecting its collaborative strength.

Social Impact and Innovations As SAMRIDH continues to grow, it highlights the importance
SAMRIDH has prioritized solutions that serve vulnerable of supportive policies, mobilizing private sector funding, and
populations, particularly women and children. Its primary adopting ESG frameworks to enhance blended finance for
healthcare initiatives include mobile health vans, social development. The initiative underscores how innovative
telemedicine canters, and health camps. For example, financing mechanisms can drive meaningful change in
organizations supported by SAMRIDH, such as Sevamob and healthcare, improving quality and access for millions in India.
Karma Healthcare, have reached over 12 million people,
with around 60% being women. Conclusion

In addition to service delivery, SAMRIDH has addressed supply The SAMRIDH initiative exemplifies the transformative
chain challenges by enabling on-demand drone delivery of power of blended finance in addressing healthcare
medical supplies to remote areas and enhancing cold storage challenges. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in
networks. The initiative has also improved health the health sector, SAMRIDH is poised to create a sustainable
infrastructure through projects like Mission ICU, which has ecosystem that enhances healthcare access and quality for
established critical care facilities in tier 2 and 3 cities. India's most vulnerable populations. Continued support and
investment in such initiatives are essential to achieving
Furthermore, SAMRIDH supports innovations focused on equitable health outcomes and fulfilling the broader goals
environmental sustainability, such as recycling plastic waste of social equity and sustainable development.

20 | 2025 | MARCH | BANKING FINANCE