General Secretary To Lam: Focus on removing difficulties, barriers and bottlenecks for the health sector to rise up

General Secretary To Lam: "The health sector needs to strongly innovate to ensure the goal of universal health care in the new situation" - Photo: VNA

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2025), on the morning of February 24, in Hanoi, General Secretary To Lam visited and worked with the Ministry of Health on the results of medical work in the past time and the directions and tasks for the coming time.

Accompanying the General Secretary were Politburo members: Le Minh Hung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Organization Commission; Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Propaganda and Education Commission; Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's Office; Tran Quang Phuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; Le Thanh Long, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Party Central Committee members, leaders of central committees, ministries and branches.

Need to innovate thinking about the medical field

At the working session, Party Central Committee member and Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan briefly reported on the results of leadership and direction in implementing the tasks of the health sector in the past time and directions for the coming time.

It emphasized that with the efforts of the entire health system, Vietnam's health output indicators have achieved remarkable results, with indicators clearly improved over the years. Many indicators have exceeded the requirements of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW in 2017 on strengthening the protection, care and improvement of people's health in the new situation.

In his speech, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that after 70 years of construction, labor, dedication and growth, the Vietnamese health sector has made great strides in both quantity and quality, meeting the increasingly high demand for medical care and treatment for the people.

The great contributions of the industry have been recognized by the Party and the State with noble awards. The most important thing is the trust and gratitude of the people towards the medical team, who have not been afraid of difficulties and hardships, dedicating themselves to the cause of public health care.

In addition to the achievements, the General Secretary pointed out that the Vietnamese health sector is also facing many major challenges, requiring strong innovation to ensure the goal of universal health care in the new situation. These challenges come not only from internal factors of the sector but also from economic, social and technological factors.

To address the challenges facing the health sector now and in the coming years, in addition to continuing to effectively implement the Party's resolutions on the health sector, the General Secretary emphasized the need to innovate thinking about the health sector.

Health care is not only about examining and treating patients, but more importantly, it is about taking care of people's health to limit diseases; it is necessary to focus on researching disease prevention measures, improving health, and prolonging life. At the same time, strengthen the capacity for reproductive health, pediatrics and geriatrics; strengthen public health; increase the number of people who visit medical facilities for annual or semi-annual health check-ups.

"Focus on removing difficulties, barriers, and bottlenecks for the health sector to rise up, so that we can have "a health system suitable to the needs of our people" as Uncle Ho wished 70 years ago," the General Secretary stated.

The General Secretary requested to improve medical ethics among health workers. In addition to implementing Uncle Ho's teachings for health workers, each physician, doctor, health worker, in addition to doing their job well, needs to raise awareness of respecting and protecting the life and health of patients; treating patients fairly, without discrimination based on their "personality"; respecting the rights and dignity of patients; being honest and objective in their work; always studying to improve their knowledge and professional qualifications; demonstrating responsibility to the community and society, to truly be a "kind mother" in the eyes of patients and their families.

General Secretary To Lam at the visit and working session with the Ministry of Health - Photo: VNA

The General Secretary emphasized upgrading equipment and infrastructure for district health centers and commune health stations; ensuring that grassroots health care has enough qualified doctors and medical staff, especially in remote areas; and constantly improving the quality of health services to attract people to seek medical treatment locally instead of rushing to higher-level hospitals.

At the same time, the sector needs to improve the effectiveness of vaccination and preventive medicine programs, expand the coverage of the expanded immunization program, and ensure that all children are fully vaccinated. In addition to the task of examining and treating people, the sector needs to improve disease prevention measures and primary health care measures to limit diseases.

Along with that, it is necessary to reduce the load on upper-level hospitals and develop a system of satellite hospitals; enhance training and transfer of techniques from central-level hospitals to provincial and district-level hospitals; invest in developing specialized medical centers in localities to reduce pressure on large hospitals.

The industry needs to increase the application of technology in medical examination and treatment, helping patients in remote areas access specialist doctors without having to travel far; build an online health consultation system to support initial diagnosis; expand forms of public-private partnership and open up space for the private sector to participate in investing in the construction of medical facilities, hospitals, nursing centers... and encourage the development of hospitals and medical services outside the state sector.

Regarding improving policies on treatment and training of high-quality medical personnel, the General Secretary suggested that the Ministry of Health should soon have specific proposals to improve salaries and allowances for doctors and nurses, especially in disadvantaged areas; and provide financial support for medical students who commit to working at grassroots health facilities after graduation.

The industry focuses on promoting scientific research and international cooperation; cooperating with international medical organizations to train doctors, receiving advanced technology transfer; creating conditions for doctors to participate in scientific conferences, exchanging experiences with foreign experts to continuously improve their qualifications and experience.

Strong innovation, ensuring the goal of universal health care

General Secretary To Lam congratulates the health sector on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day - Photo: VNA

The sector needs to improve health insurance policies to support the disadvantaged, ensuring that vulnerable groups such as the poor, the disabled, and children have comprehensive health insurance; and at the same time, improve the health insurance payment portfolio to reduce the financial burden for patients with serious illnesses.

Along with building a comprehensive strategy for human health care and public health, the industry needs to soon complete regulations on medical service management and health care; disease prevention and control and public health; management of drugs, biological products and medical equipment; health insurance and social security; rights and obligations of patients and medical staff...

Regarding the content of overcoming shortcomings in bidding for the purchase of drugs and medical equipment, the General Secretary pointed out that this is not only a problem of the health sector but also of the political system.

"We need to ask why this situation does not exist in private hospitals? This is also an institutional "bottleneck" that we need to overcome soon, so as not to affect the operation of the health sector and the quality of health care for the people. If we let this situation continue, we will be at fault with the people.

The general policy is that any problem must be immediately resolved; if the law needs to be amended, it must be amended; if a special mechanism is really needed, there must be a special mechanism to ensure that drugs and materials are adequately supplied, of good quality, and at reasonable prices," the General Secretary emphasized.

The General Secretary pointed out that it is necessary to enhance the role of traditional medicine in the health system; combine traditional medicine with modern medicine in diagnosis and treatment; promote research on folk remedies, improve the scientific nature of traditional medicine; invest in oriental medicine research centers, develop effective herbal treatment methods; support the training of traditional medicine doctors, expand the model of combining Eastern and Western medicine...

In order to enhance the application of digital technology in medical management and treatment, the General Secretary emphasized the need to promote digital transformation in healthcare management; deploy electronic medical records, synchronize health data between hospitals and medical facilities; and enhance the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in disease diagnosis, treatment and analysis of disease trends.

At the same time, invest in developing software to support doctors in making treatment decisions, increase accuracy in disease diagnosis; enhance AI applications in smart diagnosis; organ transplantation; develop stem cell technology; gene therapy techniques; robotic surgery; 3D printing technology to personalize medical devices for personalized medicine...

The General Secretary advised that it is necessary to encourage people to improve their physical fitness and practice sports; improve the quality of physical education in schools; build community sports infrastructure, encourage people to participate in physical activities; improve propaganda work, encourage regular health check-ups, early disease detection; encourage healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. Each person also needs to be responsible for raising awareness of health protection, proactively practicing physical exercise, and practicing healthy lifestyles.

To enhance the capacity to control and respond to epidemics, disease treatment is an important part of the global health strategy, the General Secretary pointed out, focusing on sharing epidemiological data information; cooperation in scientific research and medical industry development; financial and technical support, cooperation in the production and distribution of drugs and vaccines...

In addition, the health sector needs to contribute with other functional units to educate the community on maintaining hygiene in living and working places; waste treatment, ensuring unpolluted water and air sources; food hygiene and hygienic eating; control of insects and disease-causing animals; improving personal and community hygiene conditions...

To achieve the goal of building a modern, equitable and effective healthcare system, the General Secretary emphasized, there needs to be active participation from Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front, organizations and sectors, in which the healthcare sector plays a core role; mobilizing all resources, from perfecting policies, improving the grassroots healthcare system, attracting and rewarding healthcare workers, to applying digital technology and promoting preventive healthcare.

With the determination of the entire Party and people, along with the unceasing efforts of the health sector, the General Secretary believes that the Vietnamese health sector will continue to develop strongly, contributing to improving the quality of life of the people and bringing the country into a new era of prosperity and development.

General Secretary To Lam presents President Ho Chi Minh's letter to the medical staff conference in early 1955 - Photo: VNA

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day, General Secretary To Lam presented flowers and best wishes to all doctors, nurses and medical staff across the country; and presented a letter from President Ho Chi Minh to the Conference of Medical Staff in early 1955.

At the same time, the traditional book was recorded with the content: "Proud of the heroic tradition of the Vietnamese medical industry, the care of our people's health has been inherited from the history of the nation and the country.

The medical sector is proud to have Uncle Ho's teachings and must compete to carry out his teachings well, the most profound of which is "A good doctor is like a loving mother"...

The longevity and development of Vietnam is due to the very important contribution of public health care. The Party, the State and the people trust and assign this task and responsibility to the health sector; we hope that generations of professors, physicians, medical staff will successfully complete this noble and glorious mission."

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tap-trung-thao-go-kho-khan-rao-can-nut-that-de-nganh-y-te-vuon-day-20250224132033028.htm