New World Bank loan to improve grassroots health services in Vietnam

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a US$80 million loan to help Vietnam improve the quality of, and access to, basic health services in 13 provinces, with a focus on poor areas of the country.

The Investing and Innovating for Grassroots Health Service Delivery Project is designed to enable commune health stations (CHS) to start detecting and managing non-communicable diseases while strengthening their existing role in controlling infectious diseases and providing essential maternal, newborn and child health care services. About 9.2 million people are expected to directly benefit from investments under this project.

To do this the project will provide CHS with equipment, training, and quality management tools while upgrading infrastructure to meet national standards. The project will also support policy reforms that improve the financial sustainability and quality of services, and pilot innovations.

“While health outcomes and access to basic health services have improved tremendously for the general population, disadvantaged groups, especially ethnic minorities and those living in poor, remote, and mountainous provinces, still lag behind,” said Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam. “This project is designed to target these groups by closing remaining gaps in access to basic healthcare while expanding new services to address emerging demographic and epidemiological challenges.”

In addition to the US$80-million loan provided through the International Development Association, the financing package also includes grants totaling US$25 million.

Original source: World Bank
Published on 19 June 2019