Austria’s Erste Bank provides euro 9.5mn interest-free loan for health sector development

Finance and Mass Media Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, the Commercial Counsellor of the Austrian Embassy Dr. Oskar Andesner and a representative from the Erste Bank of Austria sign the agreement in this regard at the Finance Ministry premises in Colombo

Erste Bank of Austria has provided euro 9.5 million (approx. Rs.1, 810 million) interest-free credit facility to Sri Lanka to enhance the access to quality and modern healthcare facilities in local hospitals. 

The government expects to use the loan proceeds to equip a few identified local hospitals with anaesthetic machines, ICU ventilators, blood gas analyzers, endoscopes, operation theatres and mobile lights.

“The objectives of the project are to reduce the hospital acquired infections, ensure access to modern healthcare equipment so as to provide immediate care to the patients, whilst reducing the recurrent costs and expenditure to the government,” a Finance and Mass Media Ministry Communiqué said.