Diario Libre’s Adriano Miguel Tejada writes today that at the end of 2000, Congress approved a loan for US$18.6 million for the construction of the Prim hydroelectric project. The project was never realized because the government did not contribute its share of the investment. Tejada says that three years later, in August 2003, the same loan reappeared as if by magic. This time, it would go to purchase medical supplies for the Dominican Social Security Institute, the Public Works Ministry and the government pharmacies program, Promese. The supplies were to be purchased from Colombia and financed by a loan from the Banco de Comercio Exterior de Colombia at Libor +3.75, payable every six months. By 24 February, both congressional houses had given their blessing. Under this timeframe, Tejada says the medicines should be here by 16 May to quash the protests of public hospital physicians who have been demanding increased medical supplies to treat their patients.