Việt Nam’s grassroots healthcare system is failing to win public trust, resulting in overcrowding at provincial-level hospitals and hampering efforts to ensure universal health coverage in the country.

Under the theme “Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future”, APEC members are committed to strengthening co-operation and taking joint actions to foster regional economic linkages and growth for a dynamic, inter-connected and prosperous APEC community and promote an Asia-Pacific partnership for inclusive and sustainable development, said a joint statement issued by the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting.

More effective strategies for health financing are needed to improve community health and promote sustainable development in APEC economies, said at the 7^th APEC High-Level Meeting on Health & the Economy held yesterday (August 23) in HCM City.

It is necessary to address health financing issues and strengthen health systems against the growing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) epidemic, which has become a growing global concern, according to Việt Nam’s Ministry of Health.

The health of all residents in the Asia-Pacific region is a critical component of economic and trade development, Lê Quang Cường, deputy minister of Health, said at an APEC Health Working Group meeting yesterday in HCM City.

Sustainable long-term, community-based care that provides health care, nursing care, housing and livelihood support for the elderly is vitally important for Việt Nam and other countries with aging populations, experts said yesterday (august 15) at a forum held in HCM City.

Phạm Mạnh Duy, 35, lives in Hà Nội’s Nam Từ Liêm District, has not thought about buying health insurance before.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Việt Nam Social Security (VSS) yesterday signed a record on the discussions of a project to improve the management of health insurance payment in Việt Nam.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday emphasised the key role of Asia during globalisation, pointing out three key measures for the region to tacle major challenges.

Lương Ngọc Khuê, director general of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department, talks to Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about the Ministry of Health’s resolve to tighten control of private clinic operations.