PRIME Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the health sector to concentrate on Covid-19 prevention and control, prepare for any possibilities and speed up Covid-19 vaccination, particularly for children and booster shots.
Speaking at the meeting to introduce tasks of the health sector this year, Chinh said the international and domestic situation this year was forecast to have advantages and opportunities, as well as challenges because of the appearance of the new variant Omicron and possibly other ones which could make the pandemic more complicated.
He asked the health sector to follow the Resolutions of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and Resolution 01/NQ-CP of the Government to institutionalise and concretise specific measures, policies and action plans and implement them effectively.
The sector must also be based on the actual situations to direct and take Covid-19 prevention and control measures in a flexible, creative and drastic manner for the health and safety of the people, Chinh said.
Once responding to the pandemic, Vietnam should increase capacity in ensuring drugs, vaccines and essential medical materials, Chinh said, asking for research, development and technology transfer for domestic production of vaccines, therapeutic drugs, medical equipment and biological products.
The health authority was asked to quickly assess and approve domestically-produced vaccines and drugs on the principles of sciences, safety and effectiveness.
Treatment capacity must keep improving to reduce the number of patients with severe illnesses and deaths. In areas where the pandemic could develop, mobile health stations must be put in place.
The head of the Government also pointed out that the health sector should focus on perfecting institutions, mechanisms and policies to overcome inadequacies and limitations in Covid-19 prevention and control, such as granting circulation permits for drugs and vaccines, building mobile medical facilities, field hospitals or mechanisms for medical procurement.
Chinh emphasised the need to improve the country’s health care system, especially preventive medicine and grassroots health care.
Commune-level health care must be renovated, particularly the capacity to respond to major medical crises like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chinh also attached importance to the improved medical human resources, asking the health sector to gradually ensure sufficient quantity and improve the quality of medical staff at all levels.
The PM also asked for completing regulations on finance and service delivery at public health facilities, innovating service payment methods.
State management in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment must be tightened.
Social resources and investment are called on joining protecting, caring and improving people’s health.
The health sector and the Ministry of Health need to improve the efficiency of food management, promote reasonable nutrition, improve the quality of the population, combat ageing, and focus on the development of the pharmaceutical industry and traditional medicine. — Vietnam News/ANN
