ISLAMABAD, July 7 (NNN-APP) – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), decided to extend its loan scheme to hospitals and manufacturing units interested in producing protective gears and equipment, to combat COVID-19.
In a statement, the bank said, in view of health emergency in the country, hospitals which are treating non-COVID-19 patients can also get facilitated by the SBP’s scheme.
The scheme will be valid for both new hospitals and expansion of old hospitals and medical centres, if they meet the minimum requirements of the bank, including being 50-bed hospital, equipped with 24-hour emergency centre, in-house laboratory facility, ICU with ventilators and operation theatre facility.
“In order to facilitate entities planning to engage in manufacturing of mask/protective dresses/testing kits/hospital beds/ventilators and other items, to combat COVID-19, it has been decided to allow subject facilities to such entities,” the statement added.
The financial support will be given under Refinance Facility for Combating COVID-19, introduced by the central bank earlier this year, initially to provide easy loans to hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.– NNN-APP
