DESCRIPTION
The Project will have two parts:
Part One: Strengthening of public health emergency response capacity in Chongqing:
- Component 1.1: Providing emergency supplies and equipment to help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in Chongqing.
- Component 1.2: Systematic upgrading of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) at all administrative levels and the treatment capacity of hospitals in dealing with epidemic emergencies.
Part 2: Strengthening of public health emergency response capacity in Beijing:
- Component 2.1: Providing emergency supplies and equipment and supporting the upgrading of hospitals to help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in Beijing.
- Component 2.2: Capacity enhancement of the municipal-level CDC and the treatment capacity of municipal hospitals in dealing with epidemic emergencies.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL INFORMATION
The Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) is applicable to the proposed Project, which has been placed in Category B based on a virtual review of the proposed Project activities described in Component 1.2 and Component 2.1, including equipment installation, interior improvements and upgrading of laboratories, existing wards and facilities for receiving infected patients and providing medical treatment in several designated hospitals in Chongqing and Beijing. Given the emergency nature of this Project, a phased approach for addressing environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts, permitted under the ESP for Situations of Urgent Need of Assistance, has been adopted.
In the case of equipment installation, interior improvements or upgrading of laboratories, wards and facilities in the designated hospitals, it is expected that majority of activities would be completed in March and by the end of December 2020 in Beijing and Chongqing, respectively. Therefore, an environmental and social audit (ES Audit) is planned to be used as the ES instrument. Under the phased approach, the ES Audit may be deferred to the Project implementation phase. Consequently, the Bank may approve the Project prior to the preparation of the ES Audit and the Bank’s field-based ES due diligence.
The ES Audit will include collection and review of national governmental laws and regulations on environmental management of medical facilities and hospital construction and operation, medical waste disposal and management, hospital wastewater treatment and management, as well as site inspection and the audit of the related ES performance conducted by the contractors in the course of equipment installation, interior improvements or upgrading of laboratories, wards and facilities in the designated hospitals. The ES Audit will serve as the basis for any corrective or mitigation measures that may need to be undertaken by the borrower. The ES Audit process will check if there are any grievances that need to be addressed from Project supported activities and recommend actions for their resolution.
