An overview of the conference.

The conference discussed and shared the performances of social organisations, and presented certain models, initiatives and lessons of experience; as well as proposed solutions to strengthen and further promote the role and activities of social organisations in caring for and protecting public health.

Social organisations have been assigned to carry out many crucial tasks by the State and Government. Many social organisations have jointly organised conferences and seminars to propose to relevant authorities issues related to the healthcare sector, including the draft laws as follows: the Law on Health Examination and Treatment, the Law on Pharmacy, the Law on the Elderly, the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, the Law on Health Insurance, the Law on Transgender, the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, and the Law on Alcohol Harm Prevention.

Social organisations have also implemented programmes and projects to care for the health of the whole population and help socialise public heathcare. Of note, VUSTA has worked out the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS Prevention project and promoted the role of community in HIV/AIDs prevention and control.

Nevertheless, there still exist numerous shortcomings in care for public health. Among the many remaining shortcomings, the socialisation of public healthcare has not received adequate attention. The role of social organisations has not been brought into full play, and the mobilisation and encouragement of social resources from the private sector in public healthcare has not reached its potential.

At the conference, participants discussed and shared operation outcomes, and presented some models, initiatives, lessons, and existing difficulties; determined common tasks that social organisations need to take on; put forward solutions to strengthen and further promote the role and operation efficiency of social organisations in caring for and protecting public health./.