The health sector also achieved and exceeded nine out of 11 basic health indicators set out in 2018, as heard at the sector's conference in Hanoi on January 15 to review its operations in 2018 and outline plans for 2019.
Addressing the event, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that, healthcare at grassroots levels has seen significant changes in the past few years.
Approximately 90% of health stations at commune level have doctors and 95% of health stations at communes have pediatric obstetricians or midwives.
Last year, the Health Ministry also truncated 1,363 out of 1,871 conditions on business and 169 out of 234 administrative procedures, and built 38 online public services, helping to save over VND3 trillion (US$129 million), the minister noted.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam lauded the health sector for its considerable achievements in 2018, including the health insurance coverage, the number of hospital beds, and the bidding for procurement of medicines.
In 2019, the health sector should make greater efforts to reach universal health insurance coverage, gain financial autonomy, promote the application of technology in medical examination and treatment, among others.
