ADB helps Vietnam improve health care in poor, border areas

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved USD 100.6 million 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.

Illustrative photo: VNA

The financing package includes an USD 88.6 million 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 USD 12 million grant, meanwhile, will complement those reforms by piloting health service delivery 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 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 USD 32.2 billion, including USD 11.9 billion in co-financing./.

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