A patient is hospitalised at Phương Châu Sóc Trăng International Hospital in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Sóc Trăng. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Hiếu

HÀ NỘI – The Ministry of Health affirmed that the healthcare sector would continue to monitor the development of disease outbreaks both domestically and internationally, particularly dangerous and emerging infectious diseases as well as prevalent ones, and prepare with various scenarios to avoid the overlapping of disease outbreaks.

Minister Đào Hồng Lan made these remarks on Tuesday during the conference on reviewing performance in the first half of this year and announcing tasks for the rest of the year.

After listening to nearly 20 opinions from various units and deputy ministers, Lan emphasised that the healthcare sector has been focused on the building of legal documents to resolve difficulties and obstacles in the procurement of medicines, medical equipment, and medical supplies to meet the healthcare needs of people.

The ministry has made efforts to engage in exchanges with international organisations such as WHO and UNICEF, as well as relevant domestic units to receive 258,000 doses of the 5-in-1 vaccine to serve the national expanded immunisation programme.

However, Lan requested the leaders of relevant units to continue their efforts in coordinating with other ministries to promptly carry out the purchase and ordering of vaccines.

In the final months of this year, the ministry will focus on implementing solutions to improve service quality and ensure effective operation of the healthcare examination and treatment system.

Furthermore, the ministry will prioritise licensing and renewing drugs and medical equipment, and thoroughly resolving backlogged records. It will also ensure the availability of medicines for the treatment of diseases such as dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth disease.

It will also strengthen supervision on import activities to ensure the quality of drugs, medicinal materials, and medical equipment; manage drug prices, and maintain a stable pharmaceutical market.

The ministry will concentrate on researching and developing a roadmap to adjust health insurance premiums to align with adjustments in healthcare service prices and the healthcare needs of people, she said.

At the conference, Deputy Minister Đỗ Xuân Tuyên said the healthcare sector achieved significant results in various professional fields during the first six months of this year.

The ministry has proposed solutions to address the shortages of medicines and medical equipment, and overcome remaining obstacles in the implementation of projects such as the construction of Bạch Mai Hospital and Việt Nam-Germany Friendship Hospital’s branches.

The ministry has carried out 201 tasks assigned by the Government from January 1 to July 24. Among these, 56 tasks were completed, while overdue and incomplete tasks are being firmly directed for resolution.

Tuyên said the ministry has continued to effectively fulfill its role as the permanent office of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and propose to reclassify COVID-19 from a group A to group B infectious disease.

The ministry has developed a plan for sustainable control and management of COVID-19 for the period of 2023-2025. It has conducted the appropriate COVID-19 vaccination plan based on the new situation and the annual COVID-19 vaccination in the national expanded immunisation programme.

In particular, the ministry has closely monitored and tracked domestic and international disease outbreak situations and prepared plans to respond to any disease situation, he stressed.

Figures from the ministry showed that in the first six months of 2023, both outpatient and inpatient visits increased at hospitals, with some hospitals experiencing a growth rate of more than 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

The patient satisfaction rate reached over 90 per cent.

Tuyên said the ministry would continue comprehensive solutions to reduce overload and improve the quality of services. This included expanding the network of satellite hospitals, with 23 nuclear hospitals and 138 satellite hospitals in 62 cities and provinces and the application of science and technology in medical examination and treatment.

The ministry will strengthen the inspection of remote medical consultation and connect central hospitals with healthcare facilities nationwide, including those in remote and island areas.

Furthermore, the ministry will review and develop regulations to create legal corridors for the procurement and bidding of drugs and medical equipment. – VNS