The World Bank will provide a credit of US$60 million to help Vietnam improve healthcare services in seven northern mountainous provinces.

An agreement to this effect was signed by the WB and the State Bank of Vietnam in Hanoi on July 10.

Apart from US$6 million contributed by the Vietnamese Government, the sum will benefit Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Son La provinces by improving healthcare services in their districts.

The five-year project, lasting from September 2008 to February 2014, will help raise professional skills and management capacity for health workers, build up pilot models of services, provide medical equipment, and upgrade some healthcare establishments.

In addition, the project will help the provinces’ relevant agencies in supervising the performance of a healthcare fund for the poor.