Moldovan government signs loan agreement to purchase 170 ambulances

Chisinau, 12 July /MOLDPRES/ – The Government will purchase 170 ambulances for the National Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Assistance Centre. On it, Prime Minister, Pavel Filip, and Deputy Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank, Rosa María Sánchez – Yebra Alonso, have signed a Loan Agreement between Moldova and the nominated bank in Chisinau municipality. 

At a press conference, PM Pavel Filip said the document provides for €12 million loan, money to purchase ambulances.

"The healthcare is a priority area in cooperation with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEDB). Today agreement is an important step for the emergency medical system. Now, over 80 per cent of existing 300 ambulances in Moldova have a wear degree of 100 per cent. We need a total of 450 ambulances, 70 were bought last year, and on the basis of this agreement we will buy another 170. The procurement of ambulances will be carried out in parallel with implementation of program "Drumuri bune pentru Moldova" (Good roads for Moldova). Thus, we hope that due to the good roads, ambulances will be consumed less," related Filip.

The PM noted that agreement represents a new signal of confidence from foreign partners. "Thanks a lot for this support. With CEDB, we have cooperation focused on several development programmes. Today we discussed the projects in our country. I refer to the support provided for new penitentiary construction and population housing insurance. Totally, there have been made over €10 million investments. We have secured 1,400 persons with 400 social apartments. The action concerns six districts of the country," said Pavel Filip.

"The CEDB is a social bank which provides assistance for major social projects. It has a very high social impact. It is vital ambulances arrive as quickly as possible, so we will start implementing as soon as possible. We have a long-standing collaboration relationship with Moldova. We have succeeded in implementing major projects in education, judiciary and healthcare. We discussed with the leadership of ministries about programmes, reforms, priorities and reiterated being ready to support Moldova in new projects," said Deputy Governor of CEDB, Rosa María Sánchez – Yebra Alonso.

Those 170 ambulances are to be distributed throughout Moldova.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)