Prime Minister: Absolutely no shortage of medicine and medical equipment

On the morning of August 21, at the Ministry of Health, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a national online conference on "Improving public health care; proactively and flexibly adapting, contributing to rapid recovery and sustainable development".

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the online conference "Improving public health care; proactively and flexibly adapting, contributing to rapid recovery and sustainable development". Photo: Tran Minh/SKDS

Overview of Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Pham Bang

13 IMPORTANT TASKS, IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM

Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that over the past two years, together with the entire Party, people and army, the health sector has overcome many difficulties, focused on directing, urging and guiding units and localities to resolutely, synchronously and effectively implement epidemic prevention and control measures and promptly shift to a state of safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Basically, the health sector achieved the targets assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. The health insurance coverage rate increased from 81.7% in 2016 to 91.01% in 2021 (exceeding the National Assembly's target of 80% in 2020, 4 years earlier). Vietnam is considered by the international community as a bright spot in implementing the Millennium Development Goals in the health sector...

Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan reports at the conference. Photo: Tran Minh/SKDS

Institutional improvement work has been gradually completed; the organizational apparatus has been innovated, the healthcare system has been perfected towards streamlining, effectiveness and efficiency; Non-communicable disease prevention and control continues to receive attention, identified as one of the priority issues to improve health in the coming time; Synchronously implementing solutions to reduce overload and improve the quality of medical examination and treatment services.

However, the health system still has shortcomings and limitations that have not been thoroughly resolved; before and after more than 2 years of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, more difficulties and problems have arisen, directly affecting the work of caring for and protecting people's health.

This is reflected in the situation of medical staff quitting and leaving work at public health facilities; the shortage of drugs, supplies and medical equipment at many health facilities nationwide; the work of perfecting institutions and developing legal documents is still slow, inflexible and does not meet requirements; the work of organizing staff still has many shortcomings; the preventive health system still shows many limitations, especially at the grassroots health level; the overload situation has not been completely resolved at the final level hospitals...

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan outlined 13 important tasks for the health sector in the coming time, focusing on solving immediate problems, such as accelerating vaccination progress, removing difficulties and obstacles in procurement and bidding; accelerating disbursement of public investment capital; promoting licensing of drugs and medical equipment...; along with that, solving long-term issues such as perfecting institutions and policies; innovating health finance; investing in developing preventive medicine and grassroots health care...

At the conference, representatives of provinces and centrally run cities focused on analyzing and clarifying the problems, shortcomings and difficulties in performing professional tasks; as well as proposing recommendations and solutions to resolve issues that have arisen recently. Leaders of central ministries and branches discussed in detail the issues raised by the health sector and localities.

DEFINITELY NO SHORTAGE OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Concluding the Conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his sympathy and understanding for the thoughts, concerns and worries of all cadres, doctors and employees in the entire health sector in recent times; and affirmed that the Government, the Prime Minister, ministries, sectors and localities are actively removing difficulties and obstacles that the health sector is facing.

Emphasizing the important role of the health sector, the Prime Minister said that the Party, State and People will never forget the efforts, silent sacrifices and great contributions of the health sector in more than 2 years of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. This has contributed to the effective fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic recovery and development, ensuring social security, and improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a speech at the conference. Photo: skds.vn

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also pointed out the results, achievements, shortcomings and limitations in the professional activities of the health sector in recent times; and said that amid difficulties and challenges, there are always opportunities and chances for the sector to make breakthroughs in development. More than ever, the Party, the State and the People support the health sector to change for development.

In the coming time, the Prime Minister requires all health sector staff to be imbued with the viewpoint of putting people's lives and health first and foremost; loving and caring for patients as if they were their own relatives. Promoting the spirit of solidarity, joining hands, and unanimity for the lives and health of the people. Deploying work with focus and key points, completing each task, identifying important tasks that need to be resolved immediately, responding to arising tasks, and individualizing responsibilities; Paying attention to Party building work.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Hong Vinh and Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh chaired the Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Pham Bang

The Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Health to coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation, proactively respond in all situations, and resolutely prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from breaking out again and spreading widely. The Ministry of Health should direct and urge more strongly, closely monitor the Covid-19 vaccination situation in localities, especially localities with low vaccination rates.

The Ministry of Health coordinates with ministries and branches to urgently review and research to perfect the system of health institutions and policies for both the immediate and long term; prioritize investing more resources and time in reviewing, researching and perfecting the system of health institutions and policies. Closely follow reality, quickly detect emerging issues that are not yet available or mentioned in the mechanisms and policies to handle immediately according to authority or report to competent authorities for handling; respond quickly and promptly to policies.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to pay attention to motivating, improving the treatment regime, attracting medical human resources, especially in primary health care and preventive medicine. Continue to thoroughly grasp and promptly institutionalize the viewpoint that "Medicine is a special profession, requiring special selection, training, use and treatment" as directed by the Central Committee and the Politburo.

Leaders of departments, branches, Vinh City, and medical units attended the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

Ministries and sectors, first of all the Ministry of Health, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, should focus on directing the preliminary and final review, evaluation of emulation work, commendation and recognition of collectives and individuals with achievements and contributions to the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. "Do not delay the commendation of collectives and individuals with achievements because of a few individuals' violations," said the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, attention must be paid to investing in developing the health system, especially primary health care and preventive health care. Provinces and centrally-run cities must review, have plans, programs, and investment plans to improve the capacity of the primary health care system and preventive health care in the area.

The Head of Government specifically requested the health sector and localities to ensure adequate medicine, medical equipment and payment of medical examination and treatment costs covered by health insurance. Urgently complete the plan to implement the policy of correctly and fully calculating the prices of medical services, including the prices of medical examination and treatment services covered by health insurance, in accordance with the health insurance contribution level and the ability to balance the health insurance fund.

Leaders of departments, branches, sectors and localities attended the conference. Photo: Pham Bang

In addition, continue to improve discipline and administrative discipline in the performance of public duties. Promote the assignment, decentralization, and delegation of powers according to regulations. Reform administrative procedures and digital transformation in a practical and effective manner. Strengthen inspection, examination, prevention of negativity, corruption, and group interests, and strictly handle violations.

The Prime Minister also requested the health sector to continue to do better in information and propaganda work in the spirit of using the good, eliminating the bad, using the positive to push back the negative. Timely provide information and propaganda, especially on the situation and measures to prevent and control the epidemic, especially the progress of vaccination; promptly refute and fight against bad and toxic arguments and information about health work. Continue to focus on research and investment in the development of the pharmaceutical industry./.