Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Health NguyenThi Kim Tien said it is a must to improve the quality and operationalefficiency of grassroots-level health care centres in order to attract morepatients.
Speaking at a conference in Hanoi on December 20 to implement the pilot modelof enhancing capacity for medical centres at wards and communes, Tien said Vietnamhas a network of 11,400 infirmaries which spread nearly 99 percent of wards andcommunes nationwide.
Thanks to the widespread coverage of health services, Vietnam has become one ofthe ten countries completing the millennium development goal relating maternaland child health, and successfully controlled and eliminated many dangerousdiseases, the minister said.
However, she pointed to a range of limitations remaining at grassroots health careservices such as low quality, limited capacity of health workers and theshortage of medicines, among others.
The health ministry has rolled out an action plan to implement the project onbuilding and developing grassroots health care network in the new period during2018-2020, Tien said.
To carry the project, efforts will be focused on professional skills, humanresources, material facilities, equipment, financial supply, health care and ITapplication, she noted.
Dr. Kidong Park, Chief Representative of the World Health Organisation inVietnam, stressed the significance of the renovation of the health system inVietnam, explaining that it helps the country achieve the target of universalhealth care coverage.
The Vietnamese health sector should heed preventing non-contagious diseases andtake people as the centre in health care services, the official suggested.
The model will be piloted in medical clinics of 26 wards and communes of eightcities and provinces, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh,Long An, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong.-VNA