The health sector identifies priority and urgent issues and focuses on resolving them thoroughly.

National Assembly Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested the Ministry of Health to have effective solutions to remove difficulties and institutional obstacles in procurement, bidding, socialization, etc. Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Reporting to the Standing Vice President of the National Assembly and the Working Group on health work in 2022, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that from the achieved results, in 2023, the Ministry aims to develop a fair, high-quality, effective, and sustainable health system, focusing on effectively controlling the COVID-19 epidemic and newly emerging diseases; strengthening grassroots health care, preventive medicine, improving treatment capacity at all levels; and completely resolving the shortage of human resources, drugs, equipment, supplies, and medical biological products.

Notably, the Ministry of Health will focus on continuing to improve institutions and policies. Specifically, it will develop and implement a system of documents guiding the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (amended); continue to amend the Law on Pharmacy, the Law on Population, the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Disease Prevention, the Law on Medical Equipment, etc.; coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to amend the Law on Prices and the Law on Bidding, especially for contents related to the health sector.

The Minister of Health recommends to the National Assembly to continue increasing the budget for health care to ensure it is higher than the average growth rate, focusing on preventive medicine, primary health care, hospitals in disadvantaged areas, border areas, islands, leprosy, tuberculosis, mental health, etc.; supporting localities with difficulties in investing in commune health stations, etc.

Taking care of people's health "early, from afar"

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed and expressed his gratitude to the National Assembly for always paying attention and creating favorable legal corridors for the health sector to effectively carry out health care for people with the motto "early, from afar".

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, before the COVID-19 pandemic appeared, the health sector, medical staff and doctors were extremely proactive, creative, responsible and achieved highly appreciated results and achievements in health care for people, developing science and technology in the health sector (vaccine production, organ transplants, mastering many of the most advanced treatment techniques...).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health sector, each doctor and nurse has devoted their efforts, being the core force participating in the front line against the epidemic.

"We need to comprehensively recognize the efforts and endeavors of the health sector and the lessons learned in the process of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Deputy Prime Minister, adding that the passage of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment by the 15th National Assembly at the Second Extraordinary Session (January 19, 2023) has updated and assessed the situation, including weaknesses and inadequacies in mechanisms and policies arising from the process of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic; and at the same time, forecasting possible epidemic situations in the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha: For urgent issues, the Ministry of Health must focus on solving them on a weekly and monthly basis. Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Emphasizing that the issue of people's lives and health is always extremely urgent, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the health sector to continue clarifying the causes affecting people's health care (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, existing weaknesses, and bottlenecks in mechanisms and policies).

In addition to implementing major tasks in Resolution 20/NQ-TW in 2017 on strengthening the protection, care and improvement of people's health in the new situation, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, the health sector needs to identify priority issues to focus resources on resolving them thoroughly, not spreading them out.

"Through the COVID-9 pandemic, the shortcomings and weaknesses in the mechanisms and policies of the health sector have been clearly exposed, as they have not taken into account the pandemic situation, many regulations are outdated and no longer suitable. This is a problem and a requirement that the people have put forward for the health sector," said the Deputy Prime Minister, requesting the Ministry of Health to focus on reviewing mechanisms and policies on bidding for drugs and medical equipment; medical examination and treatment; health insurance, socialized health care, etc.

"For urgent issues, the Ministry of Health must focus on resolving them on a weekly and monthly basis, based on listening to and absorbing opinions from medical examination and treatment facilities, preventive medicine, etc. from the central to local levels, experts, and scientists; at the same time, proactively and closely coordinate with relevant ministries and branches," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

At the meeting, delegates also discussed key tasks that the health sector needs to focus on implementing in 2023. Photo: VGP/Minh Khoi

Focus on perfecting the legal and institutional corridor

Concluding the meeting, National Assembly Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man assessed that in 2022, despite facing many difficulties and challenges, the entire sector has made efforts and determined to complete assigned tasks. The medical work during the recent Tet holiday has contributed positively to helping people celebrate the traditional Tet holiday in a warm, joyful and safe manner.

In addition to the remarkable results, the Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly also raised a number of issues that National Assembly deputies, voters, people and public opinion are concerned about related to the health sector such as: Income, regimes and policies for health workers are still inadequate, the lives of a number of health workers are still difficult, especially grassroots health workers. The situation of resignation and abandonment of health workers, especially qualified and experienced human resources at public health facilities. The situation of shortage of drugs, medical supplies and equipment at some health facilities has not been resolved promptly and thoroughly.

The legal system still has many problems and is incomplete, especially in the areas of procurement, bidding, socialization, autonomy, and management of public hospitals; medical service prices are slow to adjust.

The capacity of the primary health care system and preventive medicine is still limited. The quality of management, operation and patient care at some health facilities has not yet met the requirements. The domestic pharmaceutical industry and medical equipment manufacturing industry are still limited.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly requested that in 2023, the health sector continue to focus on building and perfecting the legal and institutional corridors, promptly and fully implementing the Party's viewpoints and policies on health work; having effective solutions to remove difficulties and institutional obstacles in procurement, bidding, socialization, autonomy mechanisms, and management of public service units in the health sector.

The Ministry of Health needs to promptly complete and implement the Health Facility Network Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Complete and reorganize the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health and its affiliated units in a streamlined, effective and efficient manner. Promote administrative reform, assign tasks, decentralize, and delegate authority, along with resource allocation, improve the capacity of enforcement officers, and strengthen inspection, examination, supervision, and strictly handle violations.