National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ attended the opening ceremony for the new school year of the Hà Nội Medical University on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ hailed the role of teachers and doctors as he addressed the opening ceremony of the new school year at Hà Nội Medical University on Friday.

Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long and Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn also attended the event, meant to mark Việt Nam's Teachers' Day which is celebrated every year on November 20.

Huệ stressed that the National Assembly and the Government were continually improving the legal and policy system to provide the best conditions for the development of education and public health.

The country was experiencing a hard time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted, praising the spirit and sacrifices of 641 officials, doctors, and students from the university who had volunteered to work in COVID-hit localities in the country’s intense fourth wave – Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang, Bình Dương and HCM City.

“This noble gesture is a vivid demonstration of the shining moral of the Vietnamese teachers and doctors,” Huệ said.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the top legislator expressed gratitude for the silent contributions of the medical staff, teachers, and students – those who have been willing to risk their own health and lives to fight in the “dangerous zones” and those who have committed themselves to the protection of health and peaceful life of the people.

“With a rich tradition of nearly 120 years, Hà Nội Medical University has trained and produced many generations of excellent doctors, has achieved many regionally and internationally recognised scientific research projects, started new medical fields, always maintaining its position as the leading position in the area of healthcare training in Việt Nam and one of the largest and most prestigious medical training institutions in the country,” he said, adding that the school's various achievements have been granted many noble titles and awards by the State.

The university is experimenting with an autonomous policy, increasing international cooperation and striving to become the first multidisciplinary medical science university in Việt Nam with several universities under its name.

He hopes the university continues to contribute to the development of the medical field of Việt Nam and the world.

With its operation model, all teachers of the university were also active physicians and doctors, and these roles were respected and honoured at all times and at all places, Huệ said, expressing his belief that the university would be committed to its education mission, focus on developing high-quality human resources, and fostering a Vietnamese healthcare sector with modern, scientific, universal characteristics that are harmonious with traditional wisdom and actual public needs.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to be complicated and unpredictable, Huệ expressed the belief that the joint efforts and engagement of the entire nation, with the “steadfast bravery, iron will and valuable experience” of the medical team, and the involvement of the entire political system, the country will soon completely put the pandemic under control and stimulate socio-economic recovery. — VNS