Vietnamese spirit and Vietnamese bravery are once again affirmed.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh : Vietnam has become one of the countries that "comes later but comes first" in epidemic prevention - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On the morning of October 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online conference to review the COVID-19 prevention and control work of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with localities.

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the reports and frank, dedicated, responsible, and practical opinions of the delegates, especially those of the World Health Organization.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to coordinate with relevant agencies to synthesize and absorb opinions at the Conference and reports from the National Assembly's supreme supervision delegation, develop a relatively complete set of documents reflecting the epidemic prevention process, draw lessons learned, and do a good job of propaganda to be able to flexibly and effectively adapt to situations that may occur in the future.

Create combined strength to join hands and unite to fight the epidemic

Regarding the direction and management of epidemic prevention, the Prime Minister assessed that we have established a National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and made flexible and timely adjustments when the situation becomes more complicated, establishing a command system from the central to grassroots levels.

The Prime Minister emphasized: We have the right mindset, methodology and approach in defining the revolution as the cause of the entire people, by the people, for the people; putting people's lives and health first and foremost; taking people as the center, the subject in epidemic prevention, taking communes and wards as fortresses, and people as soldiers; victory over the epidemic is the victory of the entire people.

The work of epidemic prevention and control has been under the close, drastic and synchronous leadership and direction of the Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, thereby mobilizing the timely participation of the entire political system, the joint efforts and consensus of the business community and the people, and the timely and effective cooperation and support of international friends.

In particular, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong twice issued an appeal, mobilizing the strength of national solidarity, creating a combined strength for the whole country to join hands and unite to prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Standing Secretariat issued many Conclusions, Notices, Telegrams, and Official Dispatches, such as Conclusion No. 172-TB/TW dated March 21, 2020 of the Politburo on COVID-19 prevention and control, Conclusion No. 77-KL/TW dated May 6, 2020 of the Politburo on the policy of overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to restore and develop the economy, Telegram dated July 28, 2020 of the Standing Secretariat; Conclusion No. 11-KL/TU dated July 13, 2021 of the 3rd Central Conference, Conclusion No. 07-KL/TU of the Politburo dated June 11, 2021 on COVID-19 prevention and control; Telegram dated April 27, 2021, Notice No. 10-TB/VPTW dated August 24, 2021 of the Secretariat.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the conference - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Key leaders regularly discuss, unify leadership, direct and propose major orientations, mottos, policies and strategies in epidemic prevention and control.

The National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee promptly issued many Resolutions, especially Resolution No. 30/2021/QH of 2021 of the National Assembly, which created a solid legal basis for the Government to decide on a number of special and specific mechanisms to meet urgent requirements in the practice of epidemic prevention and control.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Mass Mobilization Committees at all levels, and local socio-political organizations have actively participated.

The Government, the Prime Minister, the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, all levels, sectors, Party committees and local authorities have closely followed reality and resolutely directed with appropriate policies to the epidemic situation in each stage.

In particular, the Government has proposed and implemented a vaccine strategy with three important elements: First, establishing a Vaccine Fund to mobilize financial resources; second, conducting vaccine diplomacy to access vaccines in the context of unequal access to vaccines; third, implementing the largest vaccination campaign ever, free of charge for the entire population. This strategy has been proven to be appropriate and effective in practice.

Along with that, identifying 3 pillars of epidemic prevention including isolation, testing and treatment; identifying the formula "5K + vaccine + treatment + testing + technology + people's awareness and other measures", in practice, the direction and operation especially emphasize two very important factors: vaccine and people's awareness. In the difficult context, mobilized medical staff, officers, police officers and soldiers to participate in the frontline of epidemic prevention.

Another important factor is that although there were times of passivity and confusion due to the unprecedented and inexperienced pandemic, the direction and management work closely followed and grasped the situation, shifting the appropriate state from "Zero COVID" to "Safe, flexible adaptation, effective control of COVID-19" when the vaccine was covered and more experience was gained.

Communication work is given special attention; application of information technology has been made with great efforts and achieved some results.

According to the Prime Minister, in the fight against the epidemic, we have promoted very well the relationship of "Party leadership, State management, people mastery".

The Prime Minister highly appreciated the reports and frank, dedicated, responsible, and practical opinions of the delegates, especially those of the World Health Organization - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Never back down from any difficulty or challenge, the more pressure the more effort

As a result, we have been behind in preventing and controlling the epidemic, becoming one of the countries that opened up domestic socio-economic activities early from October 11, 2021 and opened up internationally from March 15, 2022.

Notably, from a country that approached vaccines later, with a very low vaccination rate, Vietnam has become one of the five countries with the highest vaccine coverage rate and is the only country in this group with a large population of about 100 million people.

Along with that, the macro economy is stable, inflation is controlled, major balances are ensured, growth is promoted. Social security is guaranteed; people's material and spiritual life is improved. Foreign affairs and integration are strengthened and expanded. Prevention of corruption and negativity is promoted.

As of December 31, 2022, about VND 451,000 billion has been exempted, reduced, and extended for taxes, fees, charges, and land rents for businesses and business households; about VND 50,000 billion has been reduced or lowered for lending interest rates for customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; about VND 13,000 billion has been exempted or reduced for bank payment service fees, and over VND 47,200 billion has been supported from the Social Insurance Fund and Unemployment Insurance Fund for employees and employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Localities have also proactively implemented social security programs and provided support worth tens of thousands of billions of VND. In total, social security work has been implemented with about 120,000 billion VND, supporting about 68 million people and 1.48 million employers, 150,000 tons of rice have been issued...

"The success in the fight against the pandemic once again affirms the Vietnamese spirit and mettle of not retreating in the face of any difficulties or challenges, and the more pressure, the more effort," the Prime Minister affirmed.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Prime Minister respectfully and highly appreciated the Party committees, authorities, sectors, localities, and Steering Committees at all levels for upholding their sense of responsibility before the Party and the people, especially thanking medical staff, soldiers, police and other frontline forces in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; at the same time, expressing gratitude for the sacrifices and meaningful and noble contributions of the forces and people participating in the fight against the pandemic, philanthropists, sharing the difficulties, hardships, and losses of the people and businesses, and offering condolences to the families who have lost loved ones.

On this occasion, the Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee once again thanked countries and international organizations for their companionship and support to Vietnam in the fierce fight against the epidemic.

In addition, the Prime Minister pointed out a number of difficulties and limitations such as the initial confusion and passivity in directing and operating epidemic prevention; legal regulations do not cover all epidemic situations; the grassroots health system and preventive medicine cannot respond to unusual and urgent situations; administrative management still has shortcomings, some places have not properly implemented regulations and instructions; some limitations in communication, technology, social security; sabotage by hostile forces...

The conference was connected online to 63 provinces and cities - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Ready to respond to any situation, including emergencies

Highly agreeing with the lessons learned that the delegates pointed out, the Prime Minister emphasized a number of contents:

Firstly, the work of epidemic prevention and control is always under the timely leadership of the Central Committee, the Politburo, directly by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, with the participation of the entire political system, the contributions of people, businesses and the support of international friends.

Second, we must be extremely calm, persistent, courageous, and alert in the face of complex developments and difficult times, and be clear-headed and flexible in coming up with appropriate, realistic, feasible, and effective solutions.

Third, promote solidarity of the entire Party, people, national solidarity, and international solidarity.

Along with that, it is necessary to prepare the capacity of preventive medicine and primary health care at a higher level than normal; quickly overcome the consequences caused by the pandemic; reward and discipline promptly and strictly...

Regarding the direction and tasks for the coming time, basically agreeing with the tasks and solutions that have been proposed, the Prime Minister requested to continue to be vigilant, take early and remote precautions against possible epidemics and also not be completely assured with the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to last.

Along with that, continue to improve institutions, mechanisms and policies; focus on overcoming shortcomings and obstacles in current laws and create a synchronous, complete and appropriate legal framework system, promptly meeting the requirements of disease prevention and control (especially in terms of purchasing drugs, vaccines, equipment, medical supplies...) in all situations, including in emergencies.

Prepare necessary conditions to respond to possible pandemics; increase investment in developing the preventive health system, grassroots health care, improve the capacity of medical staff, ensure policies for the epidemic prevention and control force; implement the newly issued Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; further improve administrative management capacity and technology to meet the requirements of epidemic prevention...

Ministries, branches, Party committees and local authorities continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, overcome the consequences of the pandemic that may last longer, stabilize people's lives, especially for those who suffer the consequences and impacts of the pandemic, especially orphans both physically and mentally; continue to complete the handling of outstanding issues related to the work of preventing and controlling the pandemic in the past and handle policies within their authority when transferring COVID-19 to a group B infectious disease; step up the organization of implementation and soon complete the honoring and rewarding of collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in the work of preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister requested to strictly and effectively implement Directive No. 25-CT/TW dated October 25, 2023 of the Secretariat on continuing to consolidate, improve and enhance the quality of grassroots healthcare activities in the new situation and Resolution No. 99/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly on thematic supervision of the mobilization, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control, the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots healthcare and preventive medicine; and to do a good job of summarizing experiences.

The Prime Minister said that despite shortcomings, overall, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and Steering Committees at all levels have completed the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people and concluded their tasks here.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-tinh-than-viet-nam-ban-linh-viet-nam-mot-lan-nua-duoc-khang-dinh-365116.html