(Photo: CGTN)

ULAN BATOR, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed a loan and grant agreement worth $80 million with the Mongolian government for promoting health care services in the Asian country.

Declan Magee, ADB deputy country director for Mongolia, and Mongolian Finance Minister Chimed Khurelbaatar signed the agreement at a ceremony held in the capital.

The funding is intended for the first projects under the program of Improving Access to Health Services for Disadvantaged Groups, which requires a total investment of $158.34 million, according to the ADB.

"Improving people's access to health services has always been a priority in the ADB's operations in the country. The project supports the Mongolian government's commitment to universal health coverage and is in line with the operational priorities of ADB's long-term strategy -- Strategy 2030," said Magee.

The bank has a multi-tranche financing plan for Mongolia's health sector. The program of Improving Access to Health Services for Disadvantaged Groups consists of three projects, including building two hospitals in the Chingeltei and Khan Uul districts of Ulan Bator.

The program also foresees expanding hospitals in the western Mongolian provinces of Khovd and Uvs, upgrading the national ambulance call center, and setting up 10 family health centers in Ulan Bator and six provincial-level health centers in order to promote primary health care, said the ADB.