'We always consider journalists covering the medical sector as family'

On the afternoon of June 14, the Ministry of Health held a seminar and discussion on medical communication on the occasion of the 98th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2023).

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan talks with journalists following the health sector on the afternoon of June 14. Photo: Tran Minh

Before starting the discussion, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan arrived early to chat and ask questions of journalists following the health sector.

Minister Dao Hong Lan, on behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Health and the team of nearly 500,000 medical staff nationwide, sent to journalists and soldiers on the ideological front wishes for health, happiness and many achievements in their careers.

The head of the health sector shared: The Ministry of Health highly appreciates the support of news agencies, newspapers in general and journalists following the health sector in particular with the health sector in the past time. Journalists and reporters have been concerned with the sector, shared the hardships and difficulties with the medical staff in their efforts to take care of people's health, and have offered advice to the Party, State and Government to remove difficulties and create conditions for the health sector to develop; have always promptly encouraged and motivated the medical staff to perform well their assigned tasks.

"For a long time, we have always considered journalists covering the medical sector as family. We always remember the image of journalists who do not fear danger, rushing to field hospitals, COVID-19 intensive care centers, quarantine sites, vaccination sites, and sample collection sites... to reflect to the public the tireless efforts of the entire health sector in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," said Minister Dao Hong Lan.

The leaders of the Ministry of Health emphasized that the very effective cooperation between the press team and the medical team - two of the forces on the front line against the epidemic - is a solid foundation for continued good coordination in the future, for the cause of protecting and caring for people's health.

Covid-19 treatment will no longer be free

Sharing with the press on the afternoon of June 14, Mr. Ha Anh Duc, Chief of Office of the Ministry of Health, said that when Covid-19 moves from group A to group B, the disease will not be treated for free but will be paid for by health insurance.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health has asked localities to review the situation. The goal is to effectively and sustainably control Covid-19 and other infectious diseases in the area.

Minister Dao Hong Lan and Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong in the discussion on the afternoon of June 14

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the biggest change when Covid-19 is transferred from group A to group B is the change in cost, the disease is no longer treated for free. Cases with health insurance cards will be covered by insurance.

It is expected that in June, when the Prime Minister signs the decision to expire Decision 447, the Ministry will sign the decision to transfer Covid-19 from group A to group B.

The Ministry of Health has prepared with the Ministry of Justice to advise the Prime Minister on a decision to transfer the disease from group A to group B. The Ministry is also revising professional guidelines on Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment, infection prevention, etc.

Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) added that because Covid-19 changes frequently, it is necessary to promote gene sequencing in the coming time. In the sustainable control plan, Covid-19 is integrated with respiratory diseases such as influenza and severe viral pneumonia syndromes.

"This surveillance activity will be integrated into the key influenza surveillance system. The goal is that when the disease changes abnormally, we can detect it quickly, especially when there is a new variant," said Professor Lan.

According to the Ministry of Health, from the beginning of the year to May 29, the country recorded more than 85,000 Covid-19 cases. On average, our country has 17,000 cases per month, down 8.5 times compared to 2021 and down 48 times compared to 2022.

In addition, Vietnam also recorded 20 deaths due to Covid-19. The mortality rate dropped sharply to 0.02% (1.86% in 2021, 0.1% in 2022).

The deaths recorded during this period were all cases with serious underlying diseases that were being treated before, most of whom had not received enough doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Currently, the rate of Covid-19 patients being hospitalized is lower, and the rate of severe cases is also equal to or lower than some group B infectious diseases.

The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people in Vietnam is 1.6 times higher than the world average. The rate of primary dose injection is 1.4 times higher than the world average. The rate of booster injection is 2 times higher than the world average.

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