New policies on COVID-19 fight needed: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 6 suggested adopting new mechanisms and policies on COVID-19 prevention and control, which, he said, should match the new situation.
New policies on COVID-19 fight needed: PM ảnh 1Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh on November 6 suggested adopting new mechanisms and policies on COVID-19 preventionand control, which, he said, should match the new situation.

Chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committeefor COVID 19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi, the PM stressed thatvaccination remains a strategic solution in the pandemic combat.

Vigilance should be maintained to prevent pandemicresurgence, he said, urging the harmonious implementation of solutionsregarding social welfare, and social safety and order, as well as the programmeon socio-economic recovery and development, and the COVID-19 prevention andcontrol programme.

The PM asked ministries, agencies and localities tocontinue keeping a close watch on the pandemic situation, especially the appearanceof new variants, and review the materialisation of relevant documents.

He urged the steering committees for COVID-19prevention and control at the provincial level to carry forward their role inaccelerating vaccination, preparing drugs, medical equipment and humanresources for the fight, and the research and production of vaccines,biological products, medicines and medical equipment.

Obstacles relating to mechanisms, policies andprocedures, especially administrative procedures in pandemic prevention andcontrol, and socio-economic recovery and development, should be removed, Chinhemphasised.

The PM asked press agencies to work harder to reflectVietnam’s performance in pandemic containment, and socio-economic recovery and development.

He said along with the COVID-19 fight, the Ministry ofHealth and other ministries, agencies and localities need to pay attention tothe expanded immunisation programme and step up efforts to combat otherdiseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-mouth and monkeypox.

The Ministry of Health reported that Vietnam hasrecorded more than 11.5 million COVID-19 cases so far, of whom over 10.6 have recovered.The death toll reached some 43,000.

In October alone, the country detected 24,283 cases,down 64,8% from the previous month, with 15 deaths, down 16 cases.

As of November 2, the total number of doses ofCOVID-19 vaccines injected was over 262 million./.
VNA

See more

Collecting a sample from a pediatric patient for influenza testing (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City acute respiratory infections surge over 64%

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC), influenza viruses are are among the fastest-rising pathogens, with 151 positive samples in a single week. Influenza A is the dominant strain, with A/H1N1pdm09 in 116 samples, or nearly 77%.

A doctor at Trung Nguyen Medical Station in Te Lo commune, Phu Tho province, examines a child patient. (Photo: VNA)

Phu Tho builds hospital culture to improve patient satisfaction

In recent years, alongside efforts to improve the quality of medical examinations and treatment, Phu Tho province’s health sector has focused on creating civilised, friendly hospital environments and strengthening healthcare workers’ sense of responsibility and service-oriented attitudes, with the aim of earning patients’ trust and satisfaction.

An overview of the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra and César Louis-Philip Marseille, Managing Director of VAMED Engineering GmbH of Austria and member of the Board of Directors of VAMED+WWH Group of Germany,in Hanoi on October 7. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM suggests studying long-term development of hospital ship model

Vietnam is one of VAMED’s important partners in Southeast Asia. The group plans to invest 1.2 billion EUR in Vietnam over the next five years, creating jobs for thousands of workers and promoting knowledge and technology transfer. It also wishes to expand cooperation through preferential credit projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and partnerships with private enterprises; and supply medical products from Austria and Germany for Vietnamese partners.

The Son Tra regional medical centre (Photo: benhviensontra.com.vn)

Da Nang: Satellite hospitals prove effective at grassroots level

The model is an important component of the roadmap to turn Da Nang into a specialised medical centre for the central and Central Highlands regions, with a number of key specialties, in line with the spirit of Politburo Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW dated September 9, 2025, on breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care and improvement of people's health.

Illustrative image (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

Ho Chi Minh City digitises 99.4% of hospital records

As of July 2026, 163 of the city's 164 hospitals, or 99.4%, adopted electronic medical records, the report said. About 64% of public hospitals and 65% of private hospitals now run the technology across their entire operations

Yersin International Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City eyes more foreign medical tourists

Director of the municipal Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong said a key prerequisite for attracting foreign patients is a strategy to develop centres of medical excellence. He proposed selecting hospitals and specialties with strong expertise for investment towards international standards, particularly in competitive fields such as cardiology, oncology, robotic surgery, assisted reproduction, paediatrics, dentistry, cosmetic medicine, specialised health check-ups, traditional medicine and rehabilitation.

A nurse from Children's Hospital No. 1, Ho Chi Minh City, collects a blood sample for HIV testing from an infant. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Health cooperation adds fresh momentum to Vietnam-US relations

Through this MOU, the US Department of State, working with Congress, plans to provide 98.75 million USD in life-saving global health assistance over the next five years, including 21.385 million USD in dedicated Global Health Security funding, to support Vietnam’s transition to full country ownership of its HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programmes while strengthening its capacity to detect and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan and US Ambassador to Vietnam Jennifer McNamara Wick sign the memorandum of understanding on health cooperation. (Photo: US Embassy in Vietnam)

Vietnam, US launch five-year health cooperation

The cooperation will also support Vietnam in strengthening its healthcare capacity and gradually enhancing self-reliance in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention and control programmes, as well as in responding to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Tang Chi Thuong (third, right) presents flowers to congratulate six young doctors who have volunteered to work at grassroots-level health stations (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City strengthens grassroots healthcare workforce

Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health on September 10 reviewed a pilot programme combining hospital-based practice with work at grassroots health stations and organised the fourth healthcare job fair, attracting nearly 1,000 candidates and 94 recruiters offering 806 positions.