On Tuesday /May 10/, Erdenet Mining Corporation and Japanese Ambassador to Mongolia handed over Erdenet Medipas Hospital, which was built at the cost of 69 billion MNT. The hospital held its opening ceremony last Friday. The opening was attended by director-general of Erdenet Mining Corporation Ts.Davaatseren, MP S.Batchimeg, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sport S.Lambaa, Head of the Public Health Institute B.Tsogtbaatar and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mongolia Takenori Shimitsu and associated officials. During the opening, attendees noted the significance of establishing a new hospital in Mongolia. “The opening of Erdenet Medipas Hospital provides opportunities to diagnose serious diseases within the country. Erdenet Mining Corporation has invested a large sum of capital and left a huge investment to the public,” said State Secretary S.Lambaa, during the opening ceremony. “The Japanese government has invested in the Mongolian health and medicine sector for many years. One example is Erdenet Medipas Hospital,” MP S.Batchimeg states. “The fact that skilled doctors of the hospital will provide diagnoses with assistance from doctors in Japan is a big advantage and advancement. It’s great that Mongolian doctor will be able to work in Japan and that Japanese doctors can now come to Mongolia to exchange experiences.” The hospital has approximately 130 doctors and staff, but has vacancies for 40 more staff members. Doctors at Erdenet Medipas Hospital were trained in Japan, China, the Republic of Korea or European countries. Erdenet Mining Corporation provided the 69 billion MNT required for the establishment of the hospital. The Japanese government bought it under repayment terms. According to executive director of Erdenes Medipas Ya.Enkhchuluun, the Japanese government signed an agreement to build another hospital with 200 beds with their own funding within the next three years. She added that the hospital will begin doing remote diagnostics from July 1 and says the cost will be 10 percent lower than Songdo and Intermed Hospitals. Reportedly, Erdenet Medipas Hospital has the latest medical equipment and technology and provides all types of diagnostics and medical services. The hospital has a capacity to provide services to 400 to 500 people a day.