The World Bank today approved a loan of 18 million euros to Croatia to ensure faster and higher quality emergency medical assistance, announced the World Bank Office in Croatia.
The project for the improvement of emergency services and investment planning in healthcare will provide medical staff with the ability to respond more quickly after receiving emergency calls and save more lives. In addition, the project will assist the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in the development and implementation of strategic projects, ensuring the healthcare sector’s capacity to utilize funding from the European Union (EU). The project will consist of two components – the development of emergency medical services and institutional support for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The project is extremely important for Croatian citizens, as it will significantly reduce the time required for emergency medical teams to respond in situations where human lives are at risk, stated Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, Director of the World Bank for Central Europe and the Baltic States. Furthermore, the project will provide support for the development of a strategy for the reorganization of existing networks of healthcare providers, as well as strengthening the capacity to prepare projects funded by EU funds or other funds when Croatia becomes a member state. Since Croatia became a member of the World Bank in 1993, the institution has provided support for 38 activities totaling 2.3 billion dollars and 51 grants totaling 61 million dollars, the statement said. (H)
