Grant Funds to Help Viet Nam Develop Policies to Improve Health Care

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Despite a booming economy and investments in the nation's health care systems, Viet Nam continues to face challenges in providing high-quality health services to all its people.

With urban hospitals facing overcrowding and rural areas lacking facilities, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its development partners are helping design a program loan to support the government's efforts to develop policies that will improve health care for the people of Viet Nam.

"Despite investments in the health sector and improvements in key health indicators, Viet Nam continues to face hurdles in providing equal access to high-quality health services," said Lisa Studdert, Health Specialist of ADB's Southeast Asia Department.

To address these problems, the Japan Special Fund is extending a $500,000 grant for the preparation of a feasibility study and a design for the Health Systems Development Program of Viet Nam. An additional $180,000 grant will be provided by the government of Australia. The grants will be managed by ADB. The government of Viet Nam is contributing $150,000 to the program.

The development program seeks to accelerate improvements in health services by strengthening current health systems. The feasibility study and design will include a policy outline for the goals and actions of the development program and an investment component to support policy development and implementation in human resources, health financing and health service provision.

The program is the second for the health sector included in ADB's country strategy for 2007-2010.

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