May 13 (SeeNews) - The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) said it has approved a 35 million euro ($38 million) loan to Kosovo to help the country's efforts to provide health care to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CEB has also approved a 1 million euro grant from the Social Dividend Account as an interest-rate subsidy for the loan, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The financing will be used to cover some emergency healthcare costs and will help Kosovo establish specialised units in selected hospitals and purchase treatment and diagnostic equipment. Part of the loan will be used for hardship incentives to healthcare and pharmacy employees, training of medical staff, and the mobilisation of additional healthcare personnel, the CEB added.
Kosovo is expected to spend 280 million euro in extraordinary expenditures for healthcare assistance and economic and financial measures due to the pandemic.
($ = 0.9213 euro)