July 10, 2008, The World Bank and the State Bank of Vietnam signed the Financing Agreement for a US$ 60 million project to strengthen district hospitals and improve access to health services in the northern upland provinces of Vietnam.

The proposed financing will come from International Development Association – a World Bank Group’s concessional lending arm for low income countries. The money will contribute to the total investment of US$ 66 million for the Vietnam Northern Upland Health Support Project.

The project will improve district-level health hospitals by strengthening the health workforce capacity and develop pilot models to increase staff retention in Northern Upland provinces; provide basic medical equipment and selective facility repair and refurbishment; and improve hospital management.

It will also provide financial support to the Government’s Decision 139 to provide health care for the poor. The project will support provincial and district agencies in strengthening monitoring, reporting and supervision of the Health Care Fund for the Poor implementation at all levels.

The Project will be implemented in Bac Can, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Son La provinces.