Illustrative image (Source: VNA)BaRia-Vung Tau (VNA) – After four years of implementation, a project todevelop healthcare services in coastal and island areas through 2020 has showedgood outcomes with remarkable improvements recorded in quality of medicalservices for local people, heard a conference in the southern province of BaRia-Vung Tau on March 31.
Hundredsof training courses have been held for fishermen in 28 coastal localities,while thousands of medicine cabinets have been set up in offshore fishingvessels, along with the construction of hospitals in island districts,including those in Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Ly Son, participants were told at theevent.
Atthe same time, the Ministry of Health launched a pilot project to send youngvolunteer doctors to mountainous, remote, border and island localities as wellas regions with extreme difficult economic conditions.
Highly-qualifieddoctors from central hospitals were sent to local healthcare facilities to helpwith further training, while all residents in island localities were providedwith health insurance.
However,delegates also pointed out a number of difficulties facing the project,including a lack of investment from the central budget, forcing the targetedlocalities to mobilise capital from various sources.
DeputyMinister of Health Pham Le Tuan underscored the need for closer coordination betweenministries, sectors and localities in the implementation of the project.
Tuanproposed that the Ministry of National Defence act as a coordinator in transportingemergency cases at sea, while upgrading and building modern ships, enabling medicalstaff to give first aid in coast guard and military vessels.
Healso asked for closer cooperation among military and civil healthcarefacilities, as well as measures to enhance capacity of healthcare centres incoastal and island areas.-VNA
VNA
