The European Union disbursed the last tranche of the budget support for the health sector of €6 million. This additional grant is allocated following the implementation by the Ministry of Health of the conditions stipulated in the financing agreement for implementing the budget support program “Support to the Policies in the Health Sector” for 2008-2012, IPN reports.
Minister of Health Andrei Usatyi told a news conference that the additional grant was provided at the beginning of this month through the “More for More Funds” program. The funds were used to reform the pubic health service and to outfit the university medical training simulation center of the State University of Medicine “N. Testemitanu” with modern equipment.
“The financing offered by the European Union allowed creating in Chisinau the most modern simulation center in this part of Europe and establishing a regional network of modern laboratories in 11 public health centers. Thus, with the help of the new laboratory diagnosis methods, the public health centers will be able to provide services in accordance with the national legal provisions and the recommendations of the World Health Organization,” said the minister.
Andrei Usatyi noted that the 11 public health centers were outfitted with medical equipment to the value of €3 million. A sum of €1.4 million was spent in 2010-2012 for setting up the simulation center. €3 million of the additional grant of €6 million was used to outfit the center with training equipment.
Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Pirkka Tapiola said the health sector is a key one. In 2008-2012, Moldova benefitted from financing of over €49 million within the budget support program.
“We are satisfied with the way the budget support program is implemented and with the level of financial assistance, which is the highest in the region,” stated Pirkka Tapiola. He noted that the EU will continue to provide financial support to the health sector, but based on performance criteria already.
