CAIRO: Jordan is getting a medical boost after signing on Tuesday an agreement with Switzerland for 16.8 million dollars in aid to the Arab country in an effort to boost financing of hospitals and health care in the country. According to Jordanian newspapers, the deal was inked on Tuesday by visiting Swiss Confederation President Doris Leuthard and Jordan's Minister of International Cooperation Jaafer Hassan. Half of the aid would be a grant and the other half is to be a concessionary loan, government officials said. Rana Hussein, a Jordanian doctor in Amman, told Bikya Masr via telephone that she believes any effort to improve the hospital and medical care in the country is a “positive” move. “We need aid to bolster this sector, because other issues apparently are taking precedent, so if the Swiss money can find its way to hospitals and health care providers, it will be really great,” she added. Under the aid deal, Jordan will receive 90 specialized ambulances in an effort to improve medical response units across the country. Leuthard was on a mission to Amman for a three-day visit that began on Monday and was being accompanied by business people from Europe with the goal of increasing communication between Europe and Jordan. According to local press, discussions with King Abdullah and Prime Minister Samir Rifai centered on the continued efforts to keep Palestinians and Israelis at the negotiating table as well as increasing economic relations between the continent and the Middle East. At a joint press conference with Rifai, the Swiss president said Switzerland appreciated King Abdullah's efforts to end the regional conflict and was “keen to contribute in bringing peace to the region.” BM
