TR Zeliang stresses on financial reforms in healthcare

Stressing the importance of financial reforms in ensuring accessible and equitable healthcare, the state deputy minister TR Zeliang Tuesday asserted that effective health financing was not only about mobilizing resources but also about using them efficiently to reach the last mile.
Zeliang was speaking as special guest at the inaugural function of the “Health Financing Reform for Cross State learning in North East”, which commenced at Zone by the Niathu, Chümoukedima.
The deputy chief minister pointed out that in 2017 the Nagaland Health Project, supported by the World Bank, broke new grounds by introducing Results-Based Financing (RBF) for the first time in the region, linking funds to performance, not inputs.
Soon after, with support from the World Bank, he said neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam, implemented the Internal Performance Agreements (IPAs), each adapting the model to local needs.
At the same time, Zeliang said Nagaland and Mizoram have expanded social health insurance beyond targeted groups, moving toward universal health protection, which he described as “a bold and progressive step” that aligned with India’s vision for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He also stated that several Indian states, including Nagaland, have undertaken public financial management (PFM) assessments to diagnose bottlenecks in planning, budgeting, and expenditure, reforms that were essential for the long-term sustainability of health systems.
Dwelling on the workshop, he stated that it was about connecting such experiences, learning from one another’s journeys.
He said that each state in Northeast has taken different paths toward improving health financing and service delivery. “Some have focused on insurance coverage, others on accountability and performance, and still others on strengthening governance and financial systems”, he pointed.
Further, acknowledging the participation of the Gujarat government, Zeliang said that its pioneering work in PFM and health governance provided valuable lessons for the Northeast.
Zeliang urged all participants to use the platform to identify best practices, strengthen collaboration among the Health, Finance, and Planning departments, and chart a shared roadmap toward achieving UHC.
“This workshop is not the end of a project cycle. It is the beginning of a new phase of cooperation, one where data, evidence, and dialogue drive policy,” he asserted.
He also commended the department of health and family welfare, the World Bank, and all participating states for making the forum possible.
Meanwhile, setting the context and objectives of the programme, senior health specialist, World Bank, Marion Cros, acknowledged the support of government of Nagaland in hosting the forum.
She said the World Bank had been working closely with the state and other Northeastern states for over a decade to advance health reforms despite the region’s challenging terrain, extreme weather, and historically low health spending.
She observed that states like Nagaland and Mizoram had taken significant steps toward universal health insurance, ensuring access to hospital care without financial hardship, an important milestone toward UHC, she stated.
“The Northeast offers important lessons for the rest of the country. By sharing what has worked, and what has not, we can save time, money, effort, and lives,” she remarked.
She further dwelled on key topics to be discussed during the two-day workshop, which included, progress on universal health insurance, implementation research on results-based financing, governance and PFM studies, and intersection between climate and health.
She later expressed thanks to the state government for leading the initiative and expressed hope that participants would leave inspired, with practical insights they can take back and apply in their states.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by principal director, directorate of health and family welfare, Dr Mereninla Senlem, welcome address delivered by commissioner & secretary, department of health and family welfare, Anoop Khinchi, while vote of thanks was delivered by Lead Social Protection Specialist, Programme leader, Human Development, World Bank, Junko Onishi.