WASHINGTON, D.C., May 6, 2014 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$106 million credit to help improve the quality of health professionals’ education, strengthen management competencies in the health sector, and improve the skills of primary health care teams working at the grass-roots level.
The credit for the Health Professional Education and Training for Health System Reforms Project is expected to improve the quality-assurance system of health professionals’ education and support 31 colleges and universities so that newly graduated doctors, nurses and other health professionals will have better competencies and skills relevant to the current health needs of the Vietnamese population.
The Project is also expected to provide almost 1,300 primary healthcare teams in 15 provinces across Vietnam with comprehensive training and equipment to better address the healthcare needs of these communities. To complement clinical training, the project will also strengthen health management training and improve policy-making in health human resources.
The money comes from the International Development Association, the World Bank’s financing arm for low-income countries. The European Union will also contribute US$10 million, while the Government will finance US$5 million for a total project cost of US$121 million.
Through its focus on improving the clinical and management competencies of health professionals, including those who will be newly educated as well managers and staff currently working in the Vietnamese health system, the project will contribute to implementing the Government’s National Health Strategy for 2011-2020 and Health Human Resource Development Plan for 2012-2020.
