Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) on Monday presented the official decision from the President on the appointment of Nguyễn Thanh Long as the country's new Minister of Health. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Monday presented the State President’s decisions to appoint Nguyễn Thanh Long as Minister of the Ministry of Health, Nguyễn Thị Hồng as the Governor of State Bank of Việt Nam, and Huỳnh Thanh Đạt as Minister of Science and Technology.

PM Phúc spoke highly of efforts made by the health sector in preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked for greater endeavours from the sector to protect and take care of the people's health.

The sector was tasked with effectively controlling the coronavirus disease, preventing it from breaking out again, as well as other infectious diseases such as diphtheria, dengue fever, seasonal flu and cholera.

Attention should be also paid to completing policies and financial mechanisms to improve the quality and efficiency of medical services, and reduce hospital overloads, he said.

It is also necessary to manage costs for medical services, pharmaceuticals, food, medical supplies and equipment; and ensure publicity and transparency in management of drug licensing, bidding and procurement; and improve the quality of food safety, especially at kitchens in schools and industrial parks, the Government leader added.

PM Phúc asked the sector to do more to expand the coverage of universal health insurance and health insurance payments, and take care of policy beneficiaries such as the poor, people in difficult circumstances, and those with meritorious services to the country, towards ensuring that all people can get initial health care services.

Long, the deputy health minister who has been promoted to be acting health minister since July, promised that the ministry will focus on successfully implementing the tasks assigned by the Party and people.

He also demonstrated the determination to promote digital transformation in the sector with programmes such as remote medical examination and treatment, medical publicity, control of communal-level medical stations, and personal medical record management.

The sector will also speed up administrative reform to make it easier for people to access health care services, he said.

Nguyễn Thị Hồng (left) accepts the President's decision to appoint her as the 15th Governor of the State Bank of Việt Nam and the first woman to lead the bank in its history. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

At the event to officially give the title to Hồng as Việt Nam's first female governor of central bank, PM Phúc highly valued the central bank's proactive, drastic and timely actions to assist people and businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic such as debt repayment deadline extension, interest reduction, and fee exemption.

He asked the new governor to build on her predecessors’ achievements and lead the banking sector to fulfill its duties.

The SBV needs to push ahead with efforts to ensure the control of inflation, macro-economic stability, and stable value of the domestic currency. It also has to increase inspection to guarantee the banking system’s safety, curb the increase of non-performing loans (NPLs), address the existing NPLs, and apply modern technology to develop banking products and services.

Hồng thanked leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government for entrusting the position to her, pledging to help the central bank fulfill its tasks.

Earlier, the parliament had approved Hồng as the 15th Governor of the central bank. 

Huỳnh Thanh Đạt (right) receives the decision to become the new Minister of Science and Technology. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

While presenting the decision to Đạt on Sunday, PM Phúc asked the science and technology sector to focus on promoting practical connection between enterprises, research institutes and universities towards narrowing the gap between production and business.

He also urged the sector to propose breakthroughs in management mechanisms in the field, while stressing the need to make science and technology a direct production and business force to improve productivity and quality.

Minister Đạt, replacing his predecessor Chu Ngọc Anh who was reassigned to the post of Chairman of Hà Nội City People's Committee earlier this year, as stated that he will do his utmost to further promote achievements and results made by the ministry in recent years.

He also pledged to perform the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister, focusing on enhancing cooperation among domestic and foreign scientists in exploiting and developing national science and technology potential. — VNS