Big investment poured in educational and health infrastructure

VGP – Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân held a meeting this afternoon to review the construction of student dormitories, teachers’ housings, and hospitals that use the governmental bonds during the period of 2009-2010.

May 11, 2010 6:47 PM GMT+7

Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân urges the construction of 94 housing projects to be completed by Q2/2011, Hà Nội, May 2010 - Photo: VGP/Từ Lương

Recently, the Government has approved a VND 5,500 billion budget to construct 94 student housing projects in the period of 2009-2011 in 28 provinces and cities, the Ministry of Education and Training reported.

Greeting the school year of 2010-2011, the Government plans to build at least 126 student dormitories to accommodate about 180,000 students.

By the end of 2010, other 25 dormitories will shelter up to 72,000 students and in 2011, 97 dormitories more will be put into use.

The Government’s bigger ambition is to build 200,000 living sites for students with an investment of VND 8,000 billion by 2020.

Many localities have initiatively mobilized their own counterpart financing in order to lower investment student headcount; thereby, bringing the accommodation to about 330,000 students against the Government’s target of 100,000.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân urged localitiess to quickly disburse their budget before receiving additional funds in order to complete all 94 projects within Q2/2011.

Imposing tight control on health projects

The leader also reviewed the construction of health projects. He worried about the slow budget disbursement of certain projects while ordering the Ministry of Health to closely supervise this process. Only projects that can fully consume their allocated budget are allowed to receive new funds, he emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Xuyên reported that many localities were able to consume their granted budget to upgrade their healthcare system. At least 70 hospitals received some sorts of investment in 2009 to serve tens of thousands of patients in a better way.

By Trinh Nguyen