Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. — VNA/VNS Photos Anh Hiển

GENEVA — A delegation of the Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương is attending the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) from May 27 to June 1.

Hương told the Vietnam News Agency’s reporters in Geneva on the sidelines of the session that the COVID-19 pandemic shows that many countries have yet to make good preparedness for a global-scale epidemic, and warned that another epidemic would happen at any time, requiring all countries to strengthen their capacity and readiness for it.

Countries also need to cooperate and act together to best respond to and minimise global health security threats, and respond quickly and effectively to all possible health risks, Hương suggested.

She pointed to several challenges to public health care, including climate change, the illness and mortality burden by non-communicable diseases, unequal access to health services, and the risk of re-emergence of infectious diseases, especially those that can be prevented by vaccines.

The World Health Assembly in Geneva on Monday.

Within the WHA77 framework, countries will consider adopting the Pandemic Treaty and Amendments to International Health Regulations (IHR), whose contents include provisions on enhancing cooperation, information exchanges and promoting access to production technology and disease prevention products.

Once these documents are approved, this will be a breakthrough for the global health system in preventing and responding to epidemics and medical emergencies.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dũng, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, said that these documents would be a great opportunity for countries around the world, especially developing countries like Việt Nam, to access medical services, equipment, vaccines and biological products.

This will help create a breakthrough in effectively preventing future pandemics and saving more lives towards a healthy and equal world, he said. — VNS