The objective of the Program was to support the GoRF in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program aimed to address one of the most critical needs in Russia’s healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic through providing incentive payments to frontline health workers under the rules established by the Government of the Russian Federation. Incentive payments were not limited to medical workers in the public hospitals and also covered (i) medical workers in private hospitals who help patients with coronavirus, and (ii) health workers with higher non-medical education coping with the coronavirus, as well as pathologists contributing to the studies of causes and effects of the COVID-19.

The NDB Loan represented a part of a larger governmental plan to fight COVID-19. The Loan envisaged supporting the country’s healthcare sector and was focused on payments to frontline health workers, including doctors, nurses and medical staff, who provide medical care for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infections.

The Program implementation arrangements relied on existing budgetary mechanisms established in Russia.

The Program has been categorized Category “C” in line with the NDB Environment and Social Framework. The Program brought positive socioeconomic impacts through providing additional cash benefits to healthcare personnel directly engaged in response to the pandemic.

The total NDB loan amount to the Russian Federation for supporting emergency economic recovery response through assisting the country’s healthcare sector amounted to EUR 873 m or USD 1 billion equivalent.