Earlier today (18 March), the Mongolian Cabinet took steps to solve the confused situation regarding the Mongolia-Japan Teaching Hospital. Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports Yo.Baatarbileg said that talk of the privatization of the hospital was false and it would operate under his authority from today. Some media and health officials had earlier reported that the hospital, which had been built by Japanese non-refundable aid worth MNT 175 billion, was on the list to be privatized – this news created a sensation.

Currently, the MRI, microscopy, ambulatory and traditional medicine departments of the hospital are operational, but are functioning on half capacity. There have been financing difficulties and uncertainty regarding the full operation of the hospital. According to the minister, financing of MNT 14 billion for the hospital has been confirmed by the World Bank.

The Mongolia-Japan Teaching Hospital was built in 2019 on a location in the 12th Khoroo of Ulaanbaatar’s Bayanzurkh District, covering 16,000 square meters. It has been designed to provide ambulatory check-up services to over 600 people a day and over 180,000 people a year and receive 4300 inpatients, perform surgeries on approximately 2300 patients, and conduct more than 10,000 diagnostic imaging procedures.