WB-funded projects poorly implemented<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Farid A. Moeloek acknowledged
\non Thursday the poor performance of projects aided by foreign
\nfunds in his ministry.<\/p>\n
He said the ineffective management of foreign funds had led to
\nonly 30 percent of the money being absorbed so far.<\/p>\n
\"As we know, the implementation of foreign-funded projects by
\nthe Ministry of Health so far has been unimpressive, and can even
\nbe considered very low,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At the launching of a project funded by a World Bank loan to
\nhelp improve medical skills, Farid said the allocation of the
\nremaining 70 percent of funds had been \"rescheduled.\"<\/p>\n
Farid did not specify how or when the money was rescheduled.
\nHe said the poor performance was caused, by among other things, a
\nlack of understanding of project management, red tape, and
\n\"unclear reasons\".<\/p>\n
Farid declined to specify further. He said in his address that
\n\"without honesty, ethics and professionalism, the project
\n(launched on Thursday) would be only a waste of state money.\"<\/p>\n
He also said that the government and the World Bank were both
\nexamining everything related to corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism regarding World Bank projects in his ministry.<\/p>\n
In his address, Howard Barnum, the World Bank's health project
\ntask manager here said that he was aware of the many reports of
\ncorruption of World Bank funds.<\/p>\n
Barnum said after the ceremony that the bank was examining all
\nprojects, including those related to health.<\/p>\n
However he said the bank was confident that the funds for the
\nproject launched on Thursday, Health Project V, would not be
\nmisused, saying he knew and \"trusted\" the people involved. The
\nfive-year period project runs through September 2003.<\/p>\n
The World Bank loan of US$ 44.7 million makes up 80 percent of
\nthe project's total budget of US$ 56.2 million (Rp 280 billion at
\na rate of Rp 5,000 to the dollar). The final US$ 11.5 million,
\nis from the national budget, calculated at the same rate.<\/p>\n
The project, involving training and scholarships, is seeking
\nto improve medical services in outlying provinces and the quality
\nof medical staff.<\/p>\n
Provinces would determine their own preferred programs, which
\nFarid said was a new approach to ensure that provinces developed
\nbetter health services and healthier communities.<\/p>\n
Central Java, South Sulawesi and Central Kalimantan have been
\nchosen as the project's targeted provinces because of Central
\nJava's large population and high number of poor people, South
\nSulawesi's numerous health problems and Central Kalimantan's lack
\nof access to health services given its population is scattered
\nover such a huge area. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wb-funded-projects-poorly-implemented-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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