PM approves new cooperation programme with WHO

The Prime Minister has approved a scheme for the new cooperation programme with the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the 2018 - 2019 fiscal year.

A child patient under screening at Phu Vang District General Hospital in Thua Thien-Hue province. (Credit: NDO)
A child patient under screening at Phu Vang District General Hospital in Thua Thien-Hue province. (Credit: NDO)

The programme will be provided with over US$21 million in non-refundable ODA, of which US$11.9 is available and US$9.1 will be raised in the near future. The counterpart from the Vietnamese side is currently at VND6.5 billion (US$286,000).

The WHO-funded project targets to assist the Vietnamese Government in effectively addressing the priority issues in the healthcare system, while successfully implementing the National Strategy for the Protection, Care and Improvement of People's Health during 2016-2020 and the project on Building and developing the grassroots healthcare network during the 2016-2025 period.

It also aims to strengthen legislation and human resources, as well as increasing health financing, pharmaceuticals, medical products and health services to achieve the goal of reducing household spending and total healthcare costs, in addition to increase the proportion of doctors in communal health stations.

The scheme sets to strengthen the capacity for implementing International Health Regulations and the readiness in coping with urgent public health emergencies, as well as improving the effectiveness of WHO’s aids to Vietnam.

It aims also to reduce the risk of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria and other vector-borne illnesses, as well as vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Ministry of Health is assigned as the programme’s managing agency to implement it from 2018 to 2019.