The Health Financing Forum held in Dimapur united policymakers and experts from Northeast India to discuss reforms and cross-state learning in healthcare financing. Led by Nagaland and the World Bank, the event emphasized innovation, collaboration, and financial strategies to enhance health system resilience and move toward universal health coverage.
The inaugural Health Financing Forum for Cross-State Learning in the Northeast Region was held in Dimapur, co-organized by the Government of Nagaland and the World Bank. Opening remarks by Marion Cros, Senior Health Specialist from the World Bank, acknowledged the challenges that North-Eastern states face—such as challenging terrain, limited resources, and traditionally low health spending—but also celebrated their innovative health reforms. Initiatives like universal health insurance in Nagaland and Mizoram and the piloting of results-based payment systems in Assam and Meghalaya were highlighted as forward-thinking strategies to alleviate healthcare financial hardships and improve primary healthcare quality.
Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang emphasized that meaningful health financing is about both generating and efficiently utilizing resources. He stressed the importance of financial reforms for achieving equitable, accessible healthcare and called the forum a crucial space for dialogue and sharing solutions towards universal health coverage. Zeliang described health as central to human development and outlined the need for a holistic approach connecting infrastructure, manpower, financing, and governance. He praised the World Bank-supported Nagaland Health Project for introducing results-based financing, which ties funding to performance, driving accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
The state government’s vision focuses on building a resilient healthcare system to meet evolving demographic and health challenges, including climate change. The forum aims to foster collaboration, share innovations, and reduce out-of-pocket expenses while building stronger financial protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations. The event also marked the release of the FinHealth Assessment Report, analyzing health financing landscapes and offering pathways for reform to support the region’s journey toward robust, inclusive health systems.
