The Asian Development Bank (ADB ) is supporting the health ministry with a grant of USD 20 M in strengthening its peripheral health services including financial sustainability and improving its health information system.
This is ADB’s first support in the form of a grant to the health ministry.
As part of the support, the ADB handed over 85 television sets to supplement the health promotion activities of the health ministry and 100 vaccine carrier boxes worth Nu 4.8 M today.
The television sets will be distributed to the Basic Health Units (BHUs).
“These vaccine carrier boxes are very important to carry the vaccine to the designated area safely. It will be distributed to the BHUS and hospitals by the Royal Centre for Disease Control in Serbithang. Under the project, we will be procuring other health equipment to focus on better health facilities,” Sangay Tenzin, Project Manager of Health Sector Development Programme, said.
The ADB was also instrumental in strengthening the health financial sustainability when it first collaborated with the health ministry in providing substantial financial support to strengthen Bhutan Health Trust Fund in 2002.
Choni Dema
