Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan co-chaired the conference. Participants included leaders of relevant ministries, agencies and localities. Director General of the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and chaired the conference. Photo: VGP

The health sector fulfilled all three targets set by the National Assembly in 2022

In 2022, despite huge difficulties and challenges, the health sector recorded positive results in almost all aspects, especially COVID-19 prevention and control, contributing to the country’s economic recovery and development and bringing people’s life and socio-economic activities back to normal.

The sector completed all the three socio-economic targets the National Assembly assigned, including 9.4 doctors out of every 10,000 people, 29.5 beds for every 10,000 people and 92 per cent of health insurance coverage.

PM Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the conference. Photo: VGP

The sector focused on speeding up the completion of institutions. It consulted the National Assembly to adopt the amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment and issue many important legal documents. It also reviewed, amended, supplemented and built legal documents to help tackle difficulties and shortcomings relating to the health sector.

Administrative procedure reform and digital transformation were promoted. Many public services of the health sector were provided via the national public portal at the highest level. The sector connected and shared databases relating to vaccination and COVID-19 prevention and control with the national population database.

The capacity of the preventive medicine system and the local medical system were improved.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP

Speaking at the conference, VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh said the VSS, as an agency responsible for implementing social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance, has regularly coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies, particularly the health sector, to effectively implement the tasks of protecting and improving people’s health.

He said the development of health insurance participants achieved positive results in spite of difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in related policies. The coverage rate of health insurance reached 92.04 per cent by the end of 2022, fulfilling the target set by the National Assembly.

He also reported about outstanding results of the coordination between the VSS and the health sector in building and amending some legal policies relating to health insurance; assessing the implementation of health insurance policies and regulations; supervising and inspecting the medical examination and treatment covered by health insurance; ensuring the effective use of the health insurance fund; and simplifying administrative procedures.

VSS Director General Nguyen The Manh speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP

This year, the sector will focus on continuing to develop the medical system in a fair, quality, effective and sustainable manner, efficiently controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging diseases, while strengthening the local medical system and the preventive medicine system, enhancing the treatment capacity of medical facilities at all levels.

The sector is aiming to solve the shortage in human resources, medicine, medical equipment and bio-products, while striving for 93.2 per cent in health insurance coverage, 12 doctors for every 10,000 people, and 32 beds for every 10,000 people. The satisfaction rate for medical services is expected to exceed 80 per cent.

PM calls for continuous coordination and support for health sector

Addressing the conference, PM Chinh highlighted the significant role of the medical sector, and lauded the achievements that the sector made in 2022 in protecting public health. Last year, the sector successfully conducted the largest-ever COVID-19 vaccination campaign and effectively responded to other diseases, he said.

In the year, the sector completed all the three socio-economic targets assigned by the National Assembly and 13 out of the 16 specific medical goals, he noted, adding that the sector is facing many shortcomings while its mission is tougher with the emergence of many new diseases.

On the occasion of the 68th Vietnamese Physicians’ Day (February 27, 1955-2023), the Government leader extended greetings to all doctors, officials and staff of the medical sector across the country, and called on all sectors, organisations and businesses to continue their

On behalf of the Government, PM Pham Minh Chinh extended greetings and best wishes to all doctors, officials and staff of the health sector on the occasion of the Vietnamese Physicians’ Day. Photo: VGP

PM Chinh said he hopes the health sector will continue to promote its tradition, effectively implementing the Party and State’s policies and orientations, especially the Party Central Committee’s resolution on protecting, caring and improving people’s health and population work in the new situation.

At the same time, he stressed that it is necessary to pay greater attention to human resources development and complete policies and mechanisms to ensure its sustainable development.

PM Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of achievements gained by the health sector in 2022. Photo: VGP

The PM also requested the sector to promptly review the 10-year implementation of Directive 06-CT-TW on reinforcing and completing the local medical system to lay the foundation for the Party Central Committee’s directive in the field.

Along with stepping up the progress of programmes and projects to enhance its capacity and speed up public investment disbursement, the sector should concentrate on implementing the national digital transformation programme and seeking solutions to the shortage of medicine, medical equipment and bio-products.

He asked the sector to coordinate with other ministries and sectors to propose policies to attract high-quality human resources and strengthen science and technology research and transfer, and ensure the rational development of medical facilities at all levels and among regions./.