In his remarks at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan said encouraged by the success of the first phase of HSPSP (HSPSP-1), the EU has decided to continue its support for the second phase with a goal to develop Vietnam’s healthcare system towards equity and efficiency.
The second phase of the programme will focus on ten provinces considered to be the poorest – Lai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Yen Bai and Dak Nong provinces.
With EUR114 million in non-refundable aid from the EU, the programme aims to speed up progress towards universal health insurance coverage; improve the availability and quality of healthcare services at district and commune levels, thereby reducing hospital overcrowding; and contribute to the development of health policy and planning for the period of 2016-2020.
The HSPSP-1 was carried out from 2010-2013 at a total cost of EUR39.5 million. It was dedicated to expanding health insurance coverage in poor mountainous provinces and reducing overloading at central-level hospitals via building satellite hospitals.
