Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên and VNRC President Bùi Thị Hòa sign the cooperation programme for the period 2022-27 on July 1. — Photo MoH.

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health and the Việt Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) will work together in various healthcare and humanitarian activities in the next five years as part of a cooperation programme for 2022-27 signed on Friday.  

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Đỗ Xuân Tuyên highlighted achievements in cooperation programmes that the health and Red Cross sectors gained over the past years.

“During 2011-21, the joint resolution between the health ministry and VNRC was thoroughly understood and implemented at all levels from central to grassroots levels in healthcare activities and protection of people's health, especially for the beneficiaries of social policies, the poor, people in remote areas, border and island areas,” said Tuyên.

“In the coming time, the two sides need to continue working closely to better and more comprehensively support the community.”

In 2022-2027, the two organisations will focus on promoting health education and communication activities and disease prevention for Red Cross staff, members and volunteers. Priorities will be given to organise community-based first aid activities and encourage communication and mobilisation for blood, organs and tissue donation.

The two sides will also strengthen humanitarian medical examination and treatment activities, support poor patients in treatment at medical facilities, and communicate to protect the Red Cross symbol.

VNRC president Bùi Thị Hòa said that the bold move that marks more than 10 years of implementing the joint resolution was that the voluntary blood donation movement was developed powerfully, meeting the demand for blood for emergency and treatment in hospitals. Mobile medical examination and treatment groups now went to remote and isolated areas to provide medical examination and treatment and healthcare for people.

“In the new period, the Vietnam Red Cross Society will continue coordinating with the Ministry of Health to create a better care ecosystem for the poor and disadvantaged. The new feature of the coordination programme in this period is that it will be more standardised from the loving kitchen, the support bus for the poor, and the application of information technology to support the people to access information as soon as possible, to better perform healthcare for the people,” said Hòa.

During the period 2011-2021, the Joint Resolution between the Ministry of Health and the Việt Nam Red Cross Society has implemented many activities with great and impressive results.

The Ministry of Health has issued many legal documents, including three circulars on humanitarian medical examination and treatment, the issuance of operating licenses for stations and points, Red Cross first aid and first aid training, and conditions and procedures for setting up a Red Cross blood donation facility.

This is an important basis for the VNRC to improve the management and standardise the quality of healthcare activities in the new situation. — VNS