About the circulation of fake and bad-quality medicines, Huesaid their global rate nears 10 percent while the rate in Vietnam is about 2.1percent.
In order to deal with the issue, the Prime Minister directedstrengthening bidding in the Health Ministry, the Vietnam Social Security,hospitals and localities, which he said, will help reduce 15-20 percent ofmedicine prices.
The PM also requested pilot connecting medical stations withpharmacies to trace origin of medicines in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc,Phu Tho and Hung Yen in early 2017, which will be reviewed in the middle ofthis year before launch nationwide.
He also directed enhancing the fight against smuggling andtrade fraud, including medicines.
The government and PM drastically asked for ensuring qualityand reducing medicine prices, Hue said.
As regards the special administrative-economic zones in VanDon, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc, Hue said they aim to pilot mechanisms andcreate driving force for growth.
He affirmed that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City remain motivepowers of the country while the seven key economic areas still must tapmechanisms and policies to uphold their strengths.
According to him, chairs of the special administrative-economiczones must be nominated by chairmen of the provinces, reviewed by the Ministryof Home Affairs, elected by the People’s Councils and approved by the PM.
Asked about the link between economic development in threespecial economic and administrative units and national defence-securitystability and territorial integrity over time, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi KimNgan said the legislature is yet to approve the Law on SpecialEconomic-Administrative Units so that the Deputy PM will give answers inwriting.
On the management of virtual currencies, Hue stated that theState of Vietnam (SBV) issued a document refuting bitcoin and other virtualcurrencies as valid in Vietnam.
According to the Finance Ministry, up to 15,600 bitcoinmining machines have been imported to Vietnam since last year, nearly 9,000 ofthem are in Ho Chi Minh City, around 6,000 in Hanoi and the remaining in DaNang.
He said the government has directed the Ministry of Justice,the SBV, ministries and agencies thoroughly consider worldwide managementexperience to issue proper policies.-VNA