Urgent proposal to amend the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested the Government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health , and relevant ministries and agencies to urgently propose adding the amendment of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm to the National Assembly's legislative agenda.

On the morning of November 12th, continuing the program of the 8th Session, the National Assembly heard Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long report and clarify some related issues raised in the questioning session on the health sector, and the concluding remarks of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered the concluding remarks at the questioning session on the health sector.

Improving the quality of healthcare and public health protection.

Reporting and clarifying several related issues raised during the interpellation session, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long thanked the National Assembly and the Speaker of the National Assembly for dedicating time to allowing members of the Government to report, clarify, explain, and answer questions on many important issues in the field of health. According to the National Assembly's program, the Minister of Health reported, explained, and answered many questions on the groups of issues within the scope of the interpellation. These are extremely practical issues with significant importance both in the short and long term for the health and lives of the people, and are also emerging issues in management practice, receiving special attention from the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, all levels and sectors, and the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long stated that, in recent times, with the attention and support of all levels, sectors, and localities, the health sector has made many efforts and achieved many important results in the work of caring for and protecting the health of the people, especially in disease prevention and control. However, there are still many limitations and shortcomings, and even some issues that cause public concern, such as the failure to completely resolve the shortage of medicines and medical supplies, the slow processing of some projects, and obstacles and inadequacies in the management of functional foods and the prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long reported and clarified a number of related issues raised during the questioning session.

Recognizing the significance and importance of the health sector, the Government and the Prime Minister have paid special attention and decisively directed the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries and local agencies to focus on implementing a comprehensive set of tasks and solutions to improve the quality of healthcare and public health protection. The Ministry has participated in perfecting institutions and policies, drafting and submitting numerous laws to the National Assembly, promulgating legal documents within its authority, resolving obstacles and difficulties, and monitoring and inspecting the implementation at all levels, sectors, and localities, especially at the grassroots level.

The Deputy Prime Minister respectfully requests that the National Assembly delegations, National Assembly deputies, and local leaders at all levels continue to pay attention, contribute opinions, provide support, and closely coordinate with the health sector to actively address and resolve the issues raised, so that the health sector is not alone in fulfilling the important mission of protecting and caring for the health of the people entrusted to it by the Party, the State, and the people.

The use of e-cigarette products is on the rise rapidly.

Concluding the second group of issues in the field of Health, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Manh stated that the questioning session was lively with 41 delegates asking questions and 8 delegates engaging in debate. Regarding the 17 delegates who had not yet had the opportunity to question, the Chairman requested that they submit their questions to the National Assembly Standing Committee for forwarding to the Ministry of Health for answers in accordance with regulations.

The use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is rapidly increasing in the community, especially among young people, negatively impacting the health of users. Managing the advertising of medicines, cosmetics, and functional foods on e-commerce platforms and social media remains challenging. Ensuring the supply of medicines, chemicals, and medical supplies for disaster prevention and control is also limited…

During the interpellation session, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested the Government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and relevant ministries and agencies to implement the tasks and solutions outlined, including continuing to effectively implement the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; Resolution No. 99 dated June 24, 2023, of the National Assembly on the thematic supervision of the mobilization, management, and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control; and effectively implementing the planning of the network of medical facilities within the national, regional, and provincial planning for the period 2021-2030. He also requested the development of a plan for the procurement and stockpiling of medicines, chemicals, and medical equipment, ready for distribution and support to units and localities.

The Speaker of the National Assembly emphasized that the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products is rapidly increasing in the community, especially among young people, negatively impacting the health of users.

Improve the licensing and assessment process to be streamlined, transparent, and time-efficient; strengthen human resource management capacity, improve state management, and effectively mobilize the participation of professional associations in this work; decentralize licensing authority in the field of medical examination and treatment in 2024. Promote digital transformation and upgrade the national system for managing medical practice. Develop a Decree regulating the national health database. Strengthen inspection and supervision of medical practice facilities and strictly handle violations.

Simultaneously, focus on implementing the Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Pharmaceuticals and the Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Health Insurance to address difficulties and obstacles, ensuring the availability of medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, medical examinations and treatments under health insurance, and developing the pharmaceutical industry. Strengthen management, inspection, and supervision in the production and business of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods, especially on e-commerce platforms and social networks, and strictly handle violations. Promote public awareness campaigns to ensure people have a correct understanding of functional foods.

The Chairman of the National Assembly requested the urgent inclusion of amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm in the National Assembly's legislative agenda. He also requested a study and report to the National Assembly and the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the policy of developing appropriate documents to manage and prevent the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other new tobacco products. Furthermore, he called for intensified propaganda efforts to raise awareness, especially among young people and teenagers, about the harmful effects of alcohol, beer, tobacco, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/chu-tich-quoc-hoi-khan-truong-de-xuat-sua-doi-luat-phong-chong-tac-hai-cua-thuoc-la-382976.html