HÀ NỘI - The Ministry of Health has received grants of VNĐ160 billion and 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine sponsored by the banking industry, Vingroup, Sovico Group and HD Bank.

Nguyễn Thanh Long - Minister of Health and other leaders of Departments/Offices under the Ministry of Health were receiving the grants on behalf of the Government at a ceremony at the ministry's headquarter on May 21.

Also present at the ceremony were Nguyễn Thị Hồng - Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam,  Nghiêm Xuân Thành - Chairman of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), Lê Đức Thọ - Chairman of Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank), Phan Đức Tú- Chairman of Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), and Phạm Đức Ấn - Chairman of Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam (Agribank). The four banks contributed VNĐ100 billion (VNĐ25 billion each) to the COVID-19 vaccine purchasing fund.

Health Minister Nguyễn Thanh Long (left) and Lê Khắc Hiệp - Vice Chairman of Vingroup at the ceremony. — Photo Trần Minh.

Vingroup also sponsors 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed to the Ministry of Health.

Previously, Vingroup sponsored VNĐ20 billion to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) under the Ministry of Health to conduct a research and clinic trial of the  "Made in Vietnam" COVID-19 vaccine COVIVAC.

Vingroup also sponsors projects to prevent and combat COVID-19 waves including ventilator manufacturing, medical equipment, machines and chemicals for testing SARS-CoV-2 virus; three research studies on rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of Sovico Group, Phạm Quốc Thanh, General Director of HDBank, said the bank had sponsored VNĐ60 billion for the COVID-19 vaccine purchasing. "We will continue accompanying the Ministry of Health, frontline doctors and nurses fighting against the pandemic.”

Long said the Ministry of Health was making every effort to guarantee 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for 75 per cent of the Việt Nam's population.

Also on May 21, the Government decided the entire amount of money received for COVID-19 prevention through the Vietnamese Fatherland Front will be used to purchase COVID-19 vaccines. VNS