The financing package includes a policy loan worth US$88.6 million, which aims to provide budget support for the Ministry of Health during the process of launching complex reforms nationwide in key areas such as public investment governance, health service delivery, and health workforce quality in the local health care system.

An additional non-refundable aid worth US$12 million will complement these reforms through piloting health service delivery models in 12 districts in six provinces with high poverty rate, large minority populations, and unguaranteed health security.

The program is part of ADB’s coordinated effort to assist the Vietnamese Government in achieving universal health coverage, including access to essential health care services, said ADB Senior Health Specialist Mr. Gerard Servais, adding that the non-refundable aid will finance critical investments to ensure quality health service delivery in remote and disadvantaged areas, focusing on women’s health.

According to the ADB, the remarkable economic growth over the recent three decades have helped Viet Nam reduce the proportion of poor households from 52.9% in 1992 to 2% in 2016. However, the achievements are not distributed throughout the country, which leads to unequal access to qualified health care services. 

The ADB program will support reform of the Vietnamese Government in this field, including 14 completed action policies. 

The non-refundable aid will strengthen health security and launch health service supply models to meet demand of people. It also contributes to regional cooperation in health security through the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) health security project and the recently-approved GMS health cooperation strategy.