Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health will hold anationwide teleconference to launch a campaign on cutting the sector’s use ofplastic products on August 16.
As heard at a related press conference on August 12, theconference will be co-chaired by the Minister of Health, Minister of NaturalResources and Environment, as well as the Resident Representative to Vietnam ofthe United Nations Development Programme.
According to deputy head of the Health EnvironmentManagement Agency Nguyen Thanh Ha, the health sector is also a source ofplastic waste in Vietnam, which is among the countries highly polluted by thewaste in the world. Reports from a number of local hospitals say that about 5percent of medical waste is plastic. However, in the field, single-use plasticproducts like syringes, gloves and sample bottles have significantlycontributed to ensure safety and hygiene standards.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien recently signed aninstruction asking organisations in the health sector to strictly minimiseplastic waste.
Accordingly, all the health facilities are required todesign goals, plans, and roadmaps for the task. The sector is recommended toincrease the use of environmentally friendly materials, while disposable bags,bottles, cups, bowls or plates used by patients, their families and medicalpersonnel in their meals should be limited.-VNA