The process of modernizing the National Clinical Hospital began with the works to construct the new surgical block that will be finished by August 20, 2013, Info-Prim Neo reports. The process is supported by the Neighborhood Investment Facility of the Council of Europe and by loans from the World Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank. Minister of Health Andrei Usatyi said that after the hospital is renovated, it will become a modern treatment center with three surgical units – of the head, the thorax and the abdomen. “The modernization of the hospital will enable to increase the number of hospitalized patients from 25,000 to 30,000 a year. Conditions will be created for performing new types of surgeries such as renal and hepatic transplant and cardiac surgery for newborns. The number of surgeries will be raised from 16,000 to 25,000 and the average period of stay in hospital will be reduced from eight to four days,” he stated. Prime Minister Vlad Filat said he has supervised this project since its planning and is confident that the works will continue at the same pace. ”The renovation of the National Clinical Hospital is vital for Moldova. It is a complex project to the value of €105 million. Until the construction works are completed, the hospital will be outfitted with new equipment so that it meets the most modern standards,” he said. The new surgical block will have four stories and 16 surgical wards and will occupy an area of 10 206 square meters. The block will be built at a cost of €26.5 million. A part of the money represents loans from the World Bank and the Council of Europe Development Bank and a grant from the Neighborhood Investment Facility. The rest of the money will be allocated by the Government and other donors. The construction works launching event was attended by the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel, World Bank Country Manager for Moldova Abdoulaye Seck and Country Manager of the Projects Department of the Directorate General for Loans of the Council of Europe Development Bank Makedonka Mateska.