HÀ NỘI – Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tòng Thị Phóng has proposed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) work closely with the Vietnamese Government in efforts to curb diseases and increase the quality of public health care.

The Vice Chairwoman made the proposal when receiving WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in Hà Nội yesterday.

The legislator hoped that the WHO will continue providing and updating health information in Việt Nam as well as in the region and beyond, while supporting the country in improving its capacity for health workers, especially at the grassroots level.

She noted that the active assistance and co-operation of the WHO over the past few years has helped Việt Nam gain significant achievements in improving public health care and realising the UN’s millennium development goals.

Việt Nam is particularly interested in developing its health care network at the grassroots level, especially in disadvantaged and border areas, she said.

The Vietnamese legislature has promulgated a number of legal documents such as a law on public health protection, a law on HIV/AIDS prevention and a law on communicable disease prevention, creating an effective legal corridor for public health care activities, she added.

The National Assembly has closely monitored the implementation of health policies by the Government, Health Ministry and relevant agencies to improve public medical care in ethnic minority regions.

Phóng also thanked the WHO for providing financial aid for Việt Nam’s health sector and affirmed this source has been used effectively in the country.

For her part, Director-General Margaret Chan recognised the crucial role of the Vietnamese NA in building and promulgating important laws to reform the medical system.

She said the WHO is willing to help and share its extensive experience with Việt Nam in the field.

The Director-General suggested the Vietnamese Government push ahead with improving public health care and medical stations at district and commune levels, including training family doctors.

She also recommended developing regulations on the operation of private health facilities under the management of the State. — VNS