Parliament on Thursday approved a loan facility of over 5.3 million Euros to improve the standards of public laboratories in 46 district hospitals under the second phase of a clinical laboratory improvement project. The soft loan, which has a 20-year repayment period and a zero percent interest rate, would help these laboratories run automated systems. A Finance Committee report presented to the House said before the commencement of the project, over 80 percent of public clinical laboratories were still relying on conventional systems for analyzing specimens, which were inefficient. Some 22 districts health facilities have already benefited from the project. The Cape Coast district hospital, Akim Oda Government and Atebubu district hospitals are among facilities to benefit from the second phase of the project. Parliament later approved 100.00 million dollars for the sixth poverty reduction support programme. The purpose of the loan is to support the implementation of the 2008 budget and contribute to the attainment of key macroeconomic targets outlined in the budget. Health, water and sanitation are among some areas to be covered by this facility. Source: GNA