Uzbekistan, Tashkent, April 8 / Trend, D.Azizov /
The World Bank's Board of Directors approved a loan worth $93 million on April 7 for Uzbekistan to implement a health-system improvement project.
This is the third project for improving the health system in Uzbekistan to be co-financed by the World Bank. In 1999, the bank issued a soft loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the amount of $ 30 million to Uzbekistan for a project which cost $76 million to develop primary health-care in rural areas of the Fergana, Syr Darya, Navoi, Khorezm and Karakalpakstan regions. In October 2004 an interest-free loan worth $39.5 million was granted from the IDA resources, as well as a grant in the amount of $ 0.5 million to implement disease prevention programs.
The loan will be allocated from the resources of the International Development Association (IDA). The loan was issued for 35 years, with a 10-year grace period.
According to available information, the current project plans to improve the quality of health services, increase funding for the health system and reform management.
Uzbekistan became a World Bank member in 1995. Since that year, the bank has issued loans to Uzbekistan totaling about $117 billion to implement projects in financial sector development, privatization, modernizing agriculture and the power industry, and for improvement of social infrastructure, health and education.