In a letter to the World Bank, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) last month asked for immediate support so that the medical supply can be obtained as soon as possible.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia approved a contingency plan on April 18 to that end.

An interruption in obtaining the medical stock surfaced before, as the planning wing of the health ministry submitted no operation plans (OPs) to the WB for fiscal 2003-04. Although the money ($74 million) is available with the WB, the government cannot access the fund in the absence of OPs.

As a result, vaccines, contraceptives, essential drugs and other requisites may not be available before September at Union Parishad level, experts said.

Meanwhile, a six-year sector investment plan (SIP) for the Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Programme (HNPSP) supposed to be submitted by the planning wing for monetary participation of the development partners has been delayed, causing uncertainty of donor participation in the programme.

Donors are likely to contribute an estimated $1billion aid for the HNPSP, which now looks uncertain due to the absence of the SIP.

A two-day meeting in this regard was held at Brac Centre in Rajendrapur in Gazipur on Monday and Tuesday to find a solution to the problem. Major development partners contributing to the health sector attended the meet.

The absence of the SIP may lead to suspension of funding of all projects currently in operation like HIV/AIDS and National Nutrition Project (NNP).

Donor consortium under the WB is supposed to participate in the HNPSP from January next.