TEHRAN, Iran, April 20
Trend:
The necessary measures have been taken by Iran in cooperation of the World Health Organization to obtain $50 million loan from the World Bank for purchasing equipment to fight coronavirus, said the Deputy Health Minister.
"For the first time since 2005, Iran will obtain $50 million loan from the World Bank. Central Bank of Iran, the Ministry of Economic Affair and the World Health Organization are involved in the process," said Kamel Taghavinejad, Trend reports citing IRNA.
"Total of €130 million will also be borrowed from the Islamic Development Bank, while the salary of doctors and other healthcare staffs will be increased by 50 percent," he added.
"The hospitals' income during February and March dropped drastically that might led to crisis, so in case the problem continues, €1 billion from the country's foreign currency reserves will be allocated to compensate the losses," Taghavinejad said.
"So far, around 4,500 nurses were employed from February 20 to March 20, while it is expected that the health care sector will hire 10,000 employee in current Iranian year [began March 20, 2020)," he added.
"At the moment, there is shortage of experienced personnel at the National Headquarters to Fight coronavirus, although we have 19,400 volunteers 200 doctors and 725 nurses were sent to rural regions," he said.
The official noted that there is no shortage of masks and equipment in hospitals, the domestic companies provide all facilities that include gowns, N95 mask, shields and ventilators adding that the Health Ministry has purchased medicine and equipment worth $400 million for hospitals.
"Total of 15,000 beds is to be added to hospitals in current Iranian year," he said.
" About $520 million from the $1 billion credit has been paid to the Health Ministry from the National Development Fund," he added.