ADB helps Vietnam improve health care in disadvantaged areas

 

Hanoi (VNA) – The Asian Development
Bank () has approved 100.6 million USD in financing to support the Vietnamese
Government’s reform effort to improve health service delivery and the quality
of health care providers, especially in poor, border areas.

The financing package includes an 88.6 million USD
policy-based loan, which will provide budget support to the Ministry of Health
as it implements complex reforms nationwide in key areas such as public
investment governance, health service delivery, and health workforce quality in
the local health care (LHC) system.

A 12 million USD grant, meanwhile, will complement
those reforms by piloting models in 12 districts in six
provinces with high poverty rate, large minority populations, and
susceptibility to health security threat.

“The programme is part of ADB’s coordinated effort
to help the Government of Vietnam achieve universal health coverage, including
access to essential health care services,” said ADB Senior Health Specialist Mr.
Gerard Servais.

“The grant, in particular, will fund critical
investments to help ensure quality health service delivery in remote,
disadvantaged areas, with a strong focus on women’s health,” he added.

ADB
is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme
poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members, of which 48 from the
region. In 2017, ADB operations totaled 32.2 billion USD, including 11.9
billion USD in co-financing.-VNA