This WBIF-supported project deals with the comprehensive reform of the country's healthcare sector. The Ministry of Finance together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) have adopted a three-phased structure to reform that covers 90% of the health sector building stock made up of hospitals, clinics and specialised institutes. CEB provides co-financing of Phase I, where 20 Health Provider Institutes (HPIs), made up of 27 separate buildings, are to be rehabilitated and equipped. 17 of the HPIs have been rehabilitated through mid-2014. All remaining works are expected to be finalised by end of 2015. WBIF is assisting with two grants: a technical assistance grant to assist in the preparation of Phase II; and an investment grant.
The WBIF technical assistance grant was implemented in two stages. During the first stage, a Survey Report for the Health Provider Institutions phase II, covering 50 HPIs was conducted providing the MoH with estimates on the necessary healthcare infrastructure investments on all healthcare levels in the country. In phase II, a clear and integral environmental solution for the treatment of clinical waste was prepared and implemented. Phase II had 2 components. Component 1 covers the construction, rehabilitation and furnishing of another 20 HPIs located in 12 towns, including the construction of six new buildings. Component 2 covers the provision of medical equipment for the 20 HPIs to be (re-)constructed under component 1 along with environmental equipment for HPIs covered under phases I and II.
The second stage of phase II provided support to the administering project implementation unit (PIU) in a number of areas. For component A, three matters were addressed: the selection of the most suitable and most favourable architectural concept solution; the provision of mid-term and final reviews of the designs for construction of the New Clinical Block and renovation and rehabilitation or readjustment of the surgery clinic's building within the UCC Mother Teresa in Skopje. For Component B two matters were dealt with: the provision of continuous advisory and review activities during all design phases of Shtip Clinical Hospital and active guidance and consultation with the selected designer contracted by the MoH. A detailed assessment of the biomedical equipment was carried out in both health facilities, which provided input to the finalisation of the feasibility study.
Tendering for construction and supervision of work at Skopje and Shtip is ongoing.
The WBIF investment grant provided complementary funding for the completion of the reconstruction of the Institute for children's lung diseases Kozle in Skopje, part of the of HPIs rehabilitation phase I project.