Conditions for start of the first phase of the Project for Rehabilitation of Health Provider Institutions in the Republic of the Macedonia – I phase have been created, after Loan Agreement with Council of Europe Development Bank has been officially signed, by which Macedonia was granted credit in the amount of EUR 23 million, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Zoran Stavreski and Minister of Health Bujar Osmani announced at Thursday’s press conference.
 
– It is a matter of one of the major projects in the last 20 years in the health sector, being the only sector that will receive more funds according to the upcoming Supplementary Budget, Stavreski said.
Credit repayment period is 20 years, including five-year grace period and variable interest rate, which is 1.2% annually at the moment.
 
– This is another confirmation that Council of Europe Development Bank fully supports the economic developments in Macedonia and the reforms implemented in certain sectors, Vice Prime Minister Stavreski said.
 
In addition to the EUR 23 million from the Council of Europe Development Bank, the Government also participates in financing the first phase of the project with the same amount of funds. Total amount of the Project will range between EUR 130 and EUR 150 million. EUR two million has been already provided as grant from the Infrastructure Project Facility for the necessary preparations of the second and third phase.
 
– Council of Europe Development Bank has already confirmed that it will participate in financing the second and third phase and need and possibilities for participation of other financial institutions will be also taken into consideration, Stavreski said.
According to the Minister Osmani, Ministry of Health made all preparations for realization of the Project.
 
All public procurement procedures, necessary for construction works were carried out, and contractors will be selected next week. Minister expects for the construction works to start during the next month.
 
– It is a matter of historic intervention in the health sector, which following the period of several decades of neglect of health facilities, will significantly contribute to improvement of both the conditions for treatment of patients and the work of medical staff, Osmani said.
 
First phase of the Project includes construction of new building of the Institute for Respiratory Diseases in Children -“Kozle” in Skopje, reconstruction of Special Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics “Cair”, Polyclinics “Idadija”, “Bukurest” and “Jane Sandanski”, General Hospitals in Prilep, Veles, Ohrid, Strumica, Gostivar, Kumanovo, Kocani and Kriva Palanka, Psychiatric Hospital “Negorci”, Special Hospital for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis “Jasenovo” and Clinical Hospital in Tetovo. Complete reconstruction is also envisaged for the Internal Clinics, whereby the existing facility will be demolished. Up to the construction of the new facility, alternatives for using the old building of the Hospital for Gynecology and Obstetrics are taken into consideration, after its relocation in the new facility announced to be ready soon, as well as part of the facilities of the Military Hospital. As regards “Kozle” temporary facilities are one alternative, however, according to Osmani, experts will additionally, through analyses, determine the best alternatives.(MIA)
