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MUMBAI : Private sector lender Axis Bank on Thursday said it has committed to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IPE Global Ltd for the Samridh Healthcare Blended Finance Facility.
Under this partnership, Axis Bank said it will provide affordable finance of up to $150 million through Samridh, to support health enterprises and innovators who would otherwise not have access to affordable debt financing. The ability to access loans will help them increase production and provide advanced health solutions to address covid-19 along with other health emergencies, especially across the vulnerable communities of India from tier two and three cities, it said.
Samridh, an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid), leverages philanthropic capital and public sector resources, to offset barriers for commercial investments in small and medium health enterprises.
“The healthcare segment has been a key focus area for Axis Bank and we have been supporting various entities impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. Our partnership with Samridh will enable the bank to extend the much-needed debt support to more entities that are working to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure, in order to deal with the third wave of the pandemic and any other emerging healthcare challenges", said Subrat Mohanty, group executive (Axis Bank Business Group), Axis Bank.
Speaking on the collaboration, Usaid India mission director Veena Reddy said, "Private enterprise is a powerful force for lifting lives, strengthening communities, and accelerating sustainable development. Increasing access to affordable capital for small enterprises with solutions for greater reach will enable long-term impact."
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