IFC to help HCM City build medical facilities through PPP

HCM City authorities present souvenir to country manager for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia of the International Finance Corporation Kyle Kelhofer (third from left) (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) –
Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Le Thanh
Liem held a working session with Kyle Kelhofer, country manager for Vietnam,
Laos and Cambodia of the (IFC), on April 5.  

On the occasion, the two
witnessed the signing of a for the daycare
hospital of the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine between the IFC and the
university.      

Vice Chairman Liem stressed that
the signing of the advisory services agreement marks the success of the
partnership between the IFC and HCM City’s Health Department, Department of
Planning and Investment, and the Pham Ngoc Thach University. When completed,
the project will provide a training centre, a general clinic and a daycare facility,
serving around 300,000 patients a year.

Moreover, the successful
implementation of the project will pave the way for more projects in the form
of public-private partnership (PPP) between HCM City and the IFC, he said.

The official used the occasion
to thank the IFC for its active coordination with HCM City’s agencies in
implementing the content of the memorandum of understanding between the city
and the IFC, which was signed during a trip of a city delegation to the US in
December 2017.

HCM City hopes to receive more
support and advice from the IFC in other fields such as building smart city,
urban management, innovation and environmental protection, he said.          

The IFC official said with
global experience and expertise in PPP advisory services, the IFC is a suitable
partner of HCM City in developing projects serving the city’s priorities in
infrastructure and social development, helping the city save public resources
while increasing the public’s access to quality services.  

According to Kelhofer, with the
assistance of Hungary and the Rockefeller Foundation, the IFC will conduct
detailed assessment and compile a report on different options for the project
of the Pham Ngoc Thach University in the next six months. Bidding for the
project is slated to be held at the end of this year, with the results to be
announced in mid-2020.-VNA