A credit agreement on the project on reformation of health care system in Azerbaijan was signed in Baku on 9 October 2006. Addressing the signing ceremony the Azerbaijani Finances Minister said that the key objective is to remove the health system inherited from the Soviet period. Otherwise, it will be impossible to carry out reforms.
The credit agreement was undersigned by the Azerbaijani Health Minister Oktai Shiraliyev and the WB Country Manager Gregory T. Jedrzejczak.
Under the project it is planned to analyze all problems. The WB allotted a $50m privileged loan in this respect. The Government's stake in the project is $28.3m, while the rest part will be financed at he expense of the grant provided by USAID ($8m), UNICEF $470,000 the World Health Organization ($35,000).
The project is designed for 6 years.
The U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne Derse, announced that $11m has been allocated for the reformation of the health system. Part of the funds ($3m) was spent under the first project on reforms. The total budget of the second project is $86m.
Major components of the project are the delivery of first medical aid, rational distribution of resources, rendering of high quality medical services and increase of citizens' responsibility for own health.