Quickly put into operation two projects, Bach Mai Hospital, Facility 2, Viet Duc Hospital, Facility 2; closely monitor information about pneumonia virus in China

NDO - On the afternoon of January 8th, the Government Office held its regular press conference, chaired by Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son. At the press conference, leaders of several ministries and agencies answered questions from reporters regarding issues of public concern.

* Major General Hoang Anh Tuyen, Deputy Chief of the Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security , stated that the dissemination of false information, even slander and distortion, on social media is truly worrying. "From a social and ethical perspective, I believe this is a morally degraded act. From a civilized perspective, the slander, fabrication, and defamation on social media today present many problems. From a legal perspective, the law stipulates that acts of spreading distorted and slanderous information on social media will be punishable by fines or imprisonment," said Mr. Hoang Anh Tuyen.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Security cited the case of Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hang, General Director of Dai Nam Joint Stock Company, who was tried and sentenced to prison in early 2024 for "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals" for making statements and posting them on social media. Regarding the information circulating on social media related to high-ranking leaders of Asia Commercial Bank (ACB ), Mr. Tuyen stated: "The police have not received any complaints from the parties involved in this case."

According to the Ministry of Public Security spokesperson, regarding the approach to handling this issue, first and foremost, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda, dissemination, and education on the internet to ensure ethical, civilized, and honest behavior. In addition, the police force will strengthen its efforts to gather information and monitor the situation regarding false, fabricated, and slanderous information on the internet, and then propose appropriate measures for handling it. For clearly defined violations, the Ministry will strictly handle them according to the law, especially those that infringe upon or affect investment, business, and trade.

Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son speaks at the press conference (Photo: VGP).

Regarding the proposed solutions to address difficulties and obstacles related to Viet Duc Hospital's second facility and Bach Mai Hospital's second facility, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen stated that the projects for these two hospitals have been underway since 2014 according to a government decision. The Prime Minister's decision to invest in these two projects aligns with the general policy of caring for and protecting the health of the people, aiming to bring high-quality medical services closer to the people. The second objective is to enable people to access high-quality medical services quickly and efficiently, reducing the burden on central-level hospitals.

According to the Deputy Minister, the two projects were implemented under an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contract, encompassing design, construction, and installation. "This is a very new type of investment, so the implementation process encountered some difficulties and obstacles, and the contractor temporarily suspended construction from January 2021." Over the past period, the Government, the Ministry of Health, and relevant ministries and agencies have been actively researching, reviewing, and proposing solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles for the two projects. In 2023, the Prime Minister established a task force chaired by the Minister of Health. From February 2023 to the present, the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Health have held more than 20 meetings to find solutions to address the difficulties and obstacles. The Prime Minister alone chaired three regular Government meetings, and the Deputy Prime Ministers chaired numerous meetings to hear reports from the Ministry of Health.

Government Office Announcement No. 535 acknowledges the efforts of the task force in trying to finalize the plan to resolve difficulties for these two projects. "To date, the Ministry of Health and the task force have finalized the plan to resolve difficulties and obstacles related to the two projects and have submitted it to the Government. Now, with the direction of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers, the Ministry of Health has finalized the plan to resolve difficulties and obstacles related to the two hospitals. Since the beginning of November 2024, contractors have resumed construction. With this spirit, the Ministry of Health continues to direct the investor, the construction unit, and coordinate with ministries and agencies to implement solutions to resolve difficulties and obstacles after receiving feedback from competent authorities to ensure the projects are completed and put into operation in 2025."

Minister and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son provided information regarding the second phase of the two hospitals' projects, stating that it is "not a typical comprehensive EPC contract" but only involves electromechanical equipment. All medical equipment related to these two hospitals has not yet been put out to tender. This form of EPC contract is common worldwide, but due to Vietnam's very specific and strict regulations on public investment, there are some obstacles related to legal documents during implementation.

Regarding information on the human pneumonia-causing virus HMPV in China, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen confirmed that recently, the surveillance system has recorded information from news channels and social media about cases of pneumonia caused by the virus in China. Accordingly, from December 23rd to December 29th, 2024, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded the results of key surveillance of acute infectious diseases transmitted through the respiratory tract, with the main causative agent being the influenza virus (HMPV).

Shortly afterward, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially stated that the respiratory infections spreading in the country were common illnesses that peaked at certain times of the year; and affirmed that there were no adverse health events. The HMPV virus is transmitted through the respiratory tract via droplets, sneezing, runny nose, or talking. Infections with this virus manifest as common cold symptoms such as fever, cough, and nasal congestion, and can lead to complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. In particular, the disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract and tends to increase in winter with dry, cold weather conditions. The risk of infection is higher in children under 5 years old, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions due to weakened immune systems.

"Currently, Chinese health authorities have confirmed that China's healthcare system is not overloaded, and the current hospital occupancy rate is lower than last year. There are no emergency response declarations during the disease prevention and control process," Mr. Tuyen affirmed.

Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Health stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) also assesses seasonal outbreaks caused by respiratory pathogens as typically occurring in winter in temperate climates. They also advise people in these countries to implement basic measures during winter to prevent the spread and minimize risks from respiratory pathogens, especially for vulnerable groups. In addition, the organization recommends against imposing any restrictions on trade and travel related to the current trend of acute respiratory illnesses.

In light of the epidemic situation, the Deputy Minister of Health stated that the Ministry has proactively monitored and updated information through the event tracking and surveillance system on a daily basis, while also coordinating closely and sharing information with the global health system and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently, Vietnam is in the winter-spring season, with conditions very favorable for the development of viruses, including those causing respiratory infections. The Ministry of Health has issued recommendations and messages for people to proactively implement spring epidemic prevention measures, and this document from the Ministry of Health has been sent to the Departments of Health for implementation.

The Ministry advises people to regularly update themselves with official information from the Ministry of Health to avoid causing panic. At the same time, he recommends that people not be complacent or negligent and implement disease prevention measures as guided by the Ministry of Health. These measures include eating cooked food, drinking boiled water, exercising to improve physical health, frequently washing hands with soap, and wearing masks in public places and crowded areas. In particular, people should keep warm in cold weather and ensure children receive all vaccinations on schedule as guided by the health sector. When symptoms appear, people are urged to go immediately to medical facilities for examination, diagnosis, and appropriate preventive and treatment guidance.

Regarding information on salaries and Tet bonuses for workers in 2025, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi stated that the average salary in 2024 is estimated at 8.88 million VND/month, an increase of 4% compared to 2023 (8.5 million VND/month). Specifically, state-owned enterprises have an average salary of 10.91 million VND/month; private enterprises 8.1 million VND/month; and foreign-invested enterprises 9.28 million VND/month.

Regarding New Year's Day bonuses, because this year is close to the Lunar New Year, many businesses plan to focus on the Lunar New Year. Accordingly, the average bonus is VND 1.46 million per person, equivalent to 79% of the New Year's Day bonus in 2024 (VND 1.85 million per person). State-owned companies will give a bonus of VND 1.95 million per person; private enterprises will give VND 1.13 million per person; and foreign-invested enterprises will give VND 2.01 million per person. The highest New Year's Day bonus in 2025 is VND 1.8 billion, awarded to a senior management position in a foreign-invested wholesale food company in Ho Chi Minh City.

The highest New Year's bonus in 2025, at 1.8 billion VND, was awarded to a senior management position in a foreign-invested food wholesale company in Ho Chi Minh City.

For Lunar New Year bonus, the average bonus is 7.72 million VND/person, an increase of 13% compared to last year's 6.85 million VND/person.

For a limited liability company with 100% state-owned capital, the average salary is VND 7.66 million per person; for a private enterprise, it is VND 6.76 million per person; and for a foreign-invested enterprise, it is VND 8.24 million per person.

The highest Lunar New Year bonus in 2025, amounting to 1.908 billion VND, was awarded to a senior management position at a foreign-invested enterprise in the electronics and information technology sector in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition, businesses also provide other practical forms of support for employees during Tet such as giving Tet gifts, shopping vouchers, lucky money, organizing transportation (or providing travel allowances, giving free bus tickets).

The highest Lunar New Year bonus in 2025, amounting to 1.908 billion VND, was awarded to a senior management position at a foreign-invested enterprise in the electronics and information technology sector in Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding the work of ensuring social security during the Lunar New Year so that no one is left behind, in order to ensure the stability of people's lives during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake and the lean season at the beginning of 2025, on December 25, 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issued document No. 6560/BLDTBXH-CBTX on reporting on the work of rice distribution and proposing rice support during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake and the lean season at the beginning of 2025, directing the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to urgently review and compile the number of households and individuals at risk of food shortages during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake and the lean season at the beginning of 2025; Proactively allocate local budgets and mobilize other legitimate resources to provide timely support to households facing food shortages, affected by natural disasters, floods, fires, epidemics, food insecurity, and other force majeure events; In cases where budgets are insufficient or cannot be allocated, a document should be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs for compilation and submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on providing rice for famine relief during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake and the food insecurity period at the beginning of 2025.

Implementing the direction of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, as of January 8, 2025, 11 provinces, including Gia Lai, Soc Trang, Ninh Thuan, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Phu Yen and Dak Nong, have sent documents requesting the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to support famine relief rice on the occasion of the Lunar New Year and the first crop year of 2025 with a total of 7,596.345 tons of famine relief rice for 80,151 households with 506,256 people.

As of January 8th, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has submitted to the Prime Minister a proposal to provide 7,593.84 tons of rice for famine relief to 80,151 households with 506,256 people facing food shortages during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) and the lean season at the beginning of 2025 in the 11 provinces mentioned above, including: 6,697.425 tons of rice for 65,588 households with 446,495 people during the Lunar New Year; and 896.415 tons of rice for 14,563 households with 59,761 people during the lean season at the beginning of 2025.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1688/QD-TTg on December 30, 2024, to provide 1,128.945 tons of rice from the national reserve to 17,580 households with 75,263 people facing food shortages during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake and the lean season at the beginning of 2025 in Gia Lai province, including: 572.985 tons of rice for 9,230 households with 38,199 people during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake; and 555.96 tons of rice for 8,350 households with 37,064 people during the lean season at the beginning of 2025.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/som-dua-hai-du-an-benh-vien-bach-mai-co-so-2-viet-duc-co-so-2-vao-hoat-dong-theo-doi-chat-che-thong-tin-ve-virus-viem-phoi-o-trung-quoc-post855005.html