Friday, February 5 2021 15:10

ArmInfo.The Board of Directors of the World Bank (WB) decided to allocate additional funding to Armenia in the amount of $ 7.4 million to strengthen the  health care system. This is stated in the official message of the WB.

The funds will be allocated as part of the Disease Prevention and  Control Program, aimed at countering coronavirus infection and other  possible pandemics. Targeted spending of funds implies an increase in  the clinical capacity of hospitals related to intensive care.

According to the source, within the framework of the program, the  government will be able to replenish funding to complete the  construction and equip the medical center in Martuni (Gegharkunik  region), build and equip a new medical center in the regional center  of Vayots Dzor, where the problem of providing patients with  inpatient medical care is acute. There has been no capital investment  in the modernization of health care infrastructure for decades.

According to the head of the WB Armenian office Silvia Bosutro, the  World Bank's assistance to health reforms in Armenia is based on  improving the quality of medical services.

"I am especially pleased that thanks to this program, more than  137,000 residents of Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor will have the  opportunity to receive quality medical care. I am also very proud of  the number of 18 regional medical centers built with our help and  equipped with equipment, which is the result of long- term  cooperation between the World Bank and the Republic of Armenia, "she  said.

This new WB loan was allocated to Armenia by its structure - the  International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for 25.5  years with a grace period of 14.5 years.

It should be noted that since 1992 - the moment of Armenia's  membership in the World Bank, and since 1993 - the country's  membership in the International Development Association, the total  amount of Armenia's obligations to these structures amounted to $  2.434.734 million