State President Nguyen Minh Triet has urged the health sector to expand its grassroots network, providing services to all people, including those in remote areas.

President Triet addressed an audience of medical practitioners in Hanoi on Feb. 24 on the occasion of Doctors’ Day (Feb. 27). He stressed the need to promote personnel training, invest in the pharmaceuticals in gradually helping the country supply itself with medicinal needs, as well as support scientific research in treatments, preventive healthcare, and drug and vaccine production.

The President hailed achievements the health sector recorded over the past 60 years, and more specifically the progresses made in the last 10 years where medical services have undoubtedly improved.

Among countries that have the same GDP per capita, Vietnam provides outstanding healthcare services, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

The Health Ministry reports that the country has 13,400 public health facilities, more than 11,500 medical stations in communes and enterprises, and about 40,000 private practice establishments. Advanced technologies on organ transplantation, heart surgery and twin separation surgery have been conducted in Vietnam .

For the first time, the sector fulfilled all of its 19 objectives set by the National Assembly and government in 2009. Four key targets were reductions in malnutrition among children and national birth rate, hospital waste treatments, and raising the number of hospital beds per 10,000 people./.