President Tran Dai Quang and doctors, health workers nationwide who were conferred the title of People’s Physician. Photo by Duong Ngoc
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President Tran Dai Quang and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam attended the ceremony.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that the health sector has implemented various measures to reform financial mechanisms, improve medical service quality, reduce hospital congestion and increase patient satisfaction.
The minister highlighted that vaccination rates for under-one children and pregnant women in the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation have reached above 90 percent and more than 10 million children were given vaccines against transmittable diseases yearly in Vietnam.
According to the minister, by the end of 2016, the health insurance coverage rate hit 81.7 percent of the country’s population, exceeding the target set by the National Assembly and the Government.
Many new medical facilities were built, contributing to easing hospital overloading and improving quality of medical services, she added.
Speaking at the event, the President praised the efforts of doctors, pharmacists and health workers in the cause of health care in the country in past years.
The health sector has tried its best efforts to meet the increasing demand of public health care and protection over the past years, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development and international integration.
President Quang noted that medical services have been diversified while quality of service has been improved. Many modern and high-tech medical facilities were built nationwide. Many new advanced techniques were transferred to health workers at district and commune levels, easing overloads at central-level hospitals.
The Party and Government have considered health care as one of the top priorities in the country’s development, he added.
The President urged the health sector to continue reforms to provide better health care to all in the country.
The State leader suggested the health sector focus on strengthening food safety and hygiene; improving health care for mothers, children, especially ethnic and minority people; putting forward medical research and using science and technology advances for public health care and protection.
On the occasion, 134 doctors and health workers across the countrt were conferred the title of People’s Physician.
