Mr. Luca Barbone, World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, on behalf of the International Development Association (World Bank) and Minister of Finance Zinaida Grechanaya, on behalf of the Moldovan Government, have today signed an agreement on providing a $459.9 thousand grant by Japan for the implementation of the WB Health Investment Fund Project in this republic.

Luca Barbone said a greater part of the money would be used for a research of the progress of compulsory health insurance introduction and for designing strategies to increase access to health services among the poor. The rest means will be invested in improving the quality of services at hospitals and in personnel training.

Zinaida Grechanaya pointed out that transition to the compulsory health insurance is a priority in the Moldovan Government's activities. This should broaden the access to medical services for the population, first and foremost for the most socially vulnerable groups.

Concerning the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Luca Barbone pointed out that the main idea of that strategy have been outlined, and the Moldovan public has embarked on discussing that document. "Any wine should be consumed After It Has thoroughly matured, so there is no need hurrying up the events", Mr. Barbone said, thus evading giving a direct assessment of the document.

He said the Energy II Project would be submitted to the WB Board of Directors for approval on November 25, because Moldova has fulfilled practically all conditions agreed on during negotiations with the World Bank.

The Moldovan Parliament ratified the agreement on the implementation of the WB Health Investment Fund Project in April 2001. The project's total budget is $20 million, of which $10 million is to come as a preferential credit from the World Bank, and the other $10 million as a grant from the Government of the Netherlands.