BUENOS AIRES — Việt Nam wants to learn from Argentina’s experience in campaigns to prevent harm from tobacco, alcohol and non-contagious diseases, as well as in providing initial healthcare and improving public health, said Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến.

Tiến made the statement at a meeting with Adolfo Rubinstein, Deputy Minister in charge of health at the Ministry of Social Development of Argentina, within the framework of her visit to Argentina from Friday to Monday.

The visit aimed to learn about the health system in Argentina and share experiences in public health issues of common concern.

Tiến affirmed that this is an occasion for the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and foster bilateral co-operation in the health sector.

Rubinstein and other health experts introduced their country’s health system to Vietnamese delegates as well as Argentina’s policies in ensuring and improving public health, especially initial healthcare and preventive healthcare.

They stressed that primary healthcare is prioritised in the South American country’s health system via a system of community health centres.

Regarding tobacco harm reduction campaigns, the experts said Argentina built a national tobacco control programme at the end of 2003, aiming at reducing the proportion of smokers, protecting people from smoke in public areas, raising public awareness of the harms caused by cigarettes and encouraging people to quit smoking.

Argentina also passed an anti-tobacco law in 2011, including stringent regulations related to tobacco advertising and imposed high tariffs on these products to limit smoking, especially among young people, they said.

During their stay, the Vietnamese delegates visited the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital, one of the largest medical centres in Buenos Aires.

Director of the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital Patricia Elmeaudy said this is a leading public hospital for pediatric care and one of eight central-level hospitals in Argentina.

The hospital’s management board shared cooperation models with universities in training physicians and doctors at the hospital.

The Vietnamese delegation also had a working session with representatives from the leading pharmaceutical enterprises of Argentina, laid a wreath at Hồ Chí Minh Monument in Buenos Aires and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the country. — VNS