Kot, who is living and working inHanoi, was the interviewee in the article “What Israel can learn from Vietnamon how to beat the coronavirus” published on the Israel’s Haaretz newspaper onFebruary 28 which mentioned a detail that he directly provided consultations tothe Vietnamese government in the fight.
In the letter, the doctor said thereare two misquotes which are misleading.
According to him, the interviewwas conducted in the Jewish language via telephone from Israel in unstabletransmission conditions, resulting in several incorrect information in thecontents published.
Moreover, journalist Ronny Linder,author of the article, failed to send the contents to him before publication.
He said he and his chain of familyclinics highly appreciate and are grateful to the Vietnamese ministry for theirsupport and directions against the outbreak.
The doctor said the purpose of theinterview is that he wishes to express respect and gratitude to Vietnameseleaders who are battling against the epidemic and to urge countries to learnfrom Vietnam’s experience in the effort.
He also affirmed he did not intendto polish his name or advertise his clinics and that he also has contacted thejournalist and requested correcting erroneous or unmentioned information in thearticle.
The health ministry onlyconsulted the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Controland Prevention. Those two have over 120 experts working in Vietnam for yearsand always coordinate with the Vietnamese side to share information in theCOVID-19 fight.
As the permanent unit of the NationalSteering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the ministry is open toopinions of every individual and organisation, not only regarding the epidemic.However, it has not invited any individual and organisation to work asconsultant or expert for the ministry in the fight against the epidemic./.