Will discuss declaring the end of the epidemic
On the afternoon of May 29, the National Assembly continued its plenary session in the hall to discuss the mobilization, management and use of resources for Covid-19 prevention and control; and the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots healthcare and preventive medicine.
Speaking to receive and explain some issues raised by National Assembly deputies, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan thanked the close direction of the leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government for supporting the health sector in the recent past.
The Minister also expressed gratitude for the contributions of the people and voters nationwide in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic - an unprecedented pandemic.
The head of the health sector said that right after the pandemic was pushed back, in 2023, the National Assembly spent time selecting issues related to the health sector and epidemic prevention and control work to evaluate the implementation as well as draw lessons to identify what has been done and what has not been done, thereby helping the health sector recover and consolidate development.
Regarding the Report of the Monitoring Delegation, Minister Dao Hong Lan expressed complete agreement with the contents of the report.
Minister Dao Hong Lan received and further explained a number of issues raised by National Assembly deputies.
The Minister emphasized: "This is the first time we have had a general view of resource mobilization for Covid-19 prevention and control. The report is elaborate, comprehensive, and concise about the results and difficulties, while clearly pointing out the causes and recommending solutions."
Minister Dao Hong Lan expressed that in extremely difficult conditions for the country, although not having abundant resources like developed countries, the Party and State have paid attention and devoted all the most precious resources to epidemic prevention and control work.
Explaining the opinions of delegates on the change from group A disease to group B disease for the Covid-19 epidemic, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that on May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization announced that the Covid-19 epidemic was no longer a public health emergency of global concern, but the pandemic was not over.
Implementing the Prime Minister's direction, the Ministry of Health is also coordinating with ministries and branches to review legal regulations, refer to the experience of countries around the world and review practical measures to implement the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has chaired with ministries and branches to build a dossier to change the disease classification from group A infectious diseases to group B infectious diseases.
"To prepare for the announcement of the end of the Covid-19 epidemic, it is expected that this weekend, the Prime Minister will chair the National Steering Committee on Covid-19 Prevention and Control to discuss this content," said the Minister of Health.
Regarding solutions to remove difficulties in purchasing and ensuring the supply of medical equipment and biological products, especially after the post-Covid-19 period, Minister Dao Hong Lan said that the Government has directed the drafting of many documents to submit to the National Assembly for consideration, promptly issuing many documents to remove difficulties and obstacles in purchasing and bidding for chemicals, biological products, supplies and medical equipment.
Currently, to fundamentally resolve the shortage of drugs and medical equipment, the Government has directed ministries and branches to submit to the National Assembly amendments to the Law on Bidding and the Law on Prices. The Ministry of Health is completing documents to submit to the National Assembly amendments to the Law on Pharmacy and the Law on Health Insurance, etc.
"Regarding the opinions of delegates related to the issue of solving drug shortages, we have also proposed to focus on institutional issues related to perfecting the above mentioned legal documents," said the head of the health sector.
The Minister of Health said that after 4 times of adjusting and extending the drug, up to now, more than 10,500 drugs have been extended. Regarding the drug supply in our country, there are up to 22,000 items. Up to this point, the shortage of drugs for medical examination and treatment has basically been resolved.
Avoid the fear of shopping and bidding
Removing difficulties and obstacles related to procurement and bidding mechanisms.
However, there is still the psychological problem, fear of shopping, fear of bidding, according to Minister Dao Hong Lan, this is a problem that needs comprehensive solutions. In particular, on the part of the industry's responsibility, it has continued to advise on removing difficulties and obstacles related to the purchasing mechanism and bidding mechanism.
“We also hope that localities, ministries and branches will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to resolve issues related to the fear of shopping and bidding with policies and legal solutions that are comprehensive and fundamental,” Minister Dao Hong Lan expressed.
Regarding primary health care and preventive medicine policies, in 2018, the World Health Organization identified Vietnam as one of the few countries with a complete primary health care network, widely organized down to the villages and hamlets.
"The National Assembly's supreme supervision report also assessed the results, achievements, and remaining issues regarding grassroots health care and preventive health policies; the opinions of the delegates were very dedicated and responsible to consolidate and develop this system," Minister Dao Hong Lan shared.
The Minister also affirmed that the Ministry of Health collected all opinions of delegates and said that, implementing the direction of the Central Party Secretariat, the Ministry of Health is completing the dossier on building a Directive on developing grassroots healthcare in the new situation.
According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, the document of this Directive is being prepared to be submitted to the Secretariat for a meeting and approval in June 2023 with many contents related to the organizational model, implementation mechanism, implementation methods, etc. The contents raised by the delegates have been mentioned in the Directive and will be specified .
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