Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA) The Government leader listed such issues that need to beaddressed first as procurement, bidding, investment, medical services underhealth insurance and policies towards health workers.
Lauding achievements recorded by the health sector,the PM stressed that health and life of people should be prioritised first andthat it is a need to develop both public and private health services.
Chinh urged efforts to concertedly and effectivelyroll out COVID-19 prevention and control programmes, reiterating the pillars inthe combat - testing, quarantine, treatment, vaccine, treatment drugs,technologies, public awareness and other measures.
Requesting a review and perfection of medicalinstitutions and policies for both short and long terms, the PM said resourcesshould be prioritised for the work.
He asked ministries and agencies to pay moreattention to policies towards health workers, as well as grassroots-level andpreventive health care, and scientific-technological application in the sector.
The entire sector needs to take drastic measures tohandle the current shortage of medicines and medical equipment, he said, askingthe Ministry of Health to coordinate with other ministries and agencies tocreate transparent, feasible drug and medical equipment bidding mechanisms.
The leader ordered a strong revamp of medicalfinancing and insurance, speeding up public investment disbursement, and areview of public-private partnership in the sector.
Acting Health Minister Dao Hong Lan reported at themeeting that the national health coverage increased from 81.7% in 2016 to91.01% last year, surpassing the target of 80% set by the National Assembly in2020.
Notably, Vietnam is among the countries with the highestCOVID-19 vaccine coverage.
On August 19, an additional 696,048 doses ofvaccines were administered, raising the total number to 254,094,673./.
VNA
