World Bank Group Awards India Development Marketplace Grant To GNRC

Guwahati, June 23, 2014

Grant To Aid GNRC Scale Profitable Business Model Providing Affordable Access To Quality Healthcare

The World Bank Group (WBG), through its India Development Marketplace (IDM) initiative, has chosen GNRC (formerly known as Guwahati Neurological Research Centre) to receive a grant of US$150,000. The grant was announced by Onno Ruhl, Country Director, India, World Bank and Anil Sinha, Regional Head, South Asia Inclusive Business Models, International Finance Corporation (IFC) during a conference and workshop on development marketplace in Guwahati. IFC, a member of World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. The event was organised from June 19-22, 2014 at the NEDFi Convention Centre, Guwahati. The award was presented by Mr. Ruhl and Mr. Jitesh Khosla, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam to Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah, Chairman, GNRC.

"IDM 2014 has surfaced some of the most innovative solutions for delivering crucial services - in healthcare, finance, education, water and sanitation - to the poor living in Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya", said Onno Ruhl.

"From scaling up access to low cost healthcare, tapping unbanked populations through technology, to providing energy efficient solutions for water & sanitation issues, these winners demonstrate intent and potential to create a more meaningful impact in the lives of poor. Their work with the communities helps us, and the government, understand what really works on the ground," he added.

“Inclusive businesses have the potential to provide innovative and sustainable last mile delivery solutions in assisting the underserved. Linking these early-stage enterprises to next-stage financing through grant support and advisory services will refine and strengthen their business models and ensure their sustainable impact over the long-term. The focus of 2014 India Development Marketplace in northeast India will help support inclusive growth in this priority region”, said Anil Sinha.

“The grant and tailor-made capacity development program by the World Bank Group (WBG) is a big support to our mission of making a meaningful impact in the lives of people by providing quality healthcare services at affordable prices. It will help us to scale up our operating model and bridge the gap between healthcare requirement and availability,” said Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah.

Through its India Development Marketplace initiative, the World Bank Group (World Bank and the International Finance Corporation) identifies and supports scalable, replicable and financially sustainable projects that offer solutions to the most pressing social, environmental and economic problems. The social enterprises which were recognised for India Development Marketplace 2014 awards, went through an extensive due diligence and evaluation/meticulously evaluated for their demonstrated projects.

A panel of eminent industry experts reviewed and shortlisted these projects on parameters including clarity of social mission, results and impact, operational capabilities, quality of partnerships and sustainability and financial management. GNRC was recognised for its operating model and social mission. Its operating model ensures affordable accessible quality healthcare services through ultra-low-cost hospitals. The social mission of the hospital focuses on rural outreach for preventive healthcare education, early diagnosis & treatment, including educating rural women on risks & treatment for cervical cancers.

About the Development Marketplace

The Development Marketplace is a competitive grants program, supported by the World Bank Group that identifies, supports, and promotes innovative social enterprises that effectively deliver services to the poor. Selected organizations demonstrate the potential of growth and provided nee-based technical assistance in order to replicate and expand their efforts. Since its inception in 1998, the Development Marketplace has awarded more than US$65 million in grants to more than 1200 social enterprises identified through country, regional, and global competitions.

About GNRC Hospitals

GNRC (formerly known as Guwahati Neurological Research Centre), was founded by Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah in 1985. It is the first super specialty healthcare centre in North-East India and presently operates three hospitals offering over 500 beds. As a multi-specialty health care center, GNRC serves the people of Assam, other states of North East India and the neighboring south east Asian countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The British Standard Institute, London, has accredited the organization as ISO 14001:2008 compliant.

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