Vietnam Health Sector Aims to Reduce Infectious Disease Death Rate

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has set a target to reduce the rate of deaths caused by dangerous infectious diseases in the 2016-20 period. The target was announced by Nguyen Nam Lien, head of Ministry of Planning and Finance Department, at a conference last week. The conference reviewed the national program on healthcare and population in the 2011-15 period, and set targets for the next five years. The national program on healthcare and population for the 2016-20 period include eight major projects aimed at preventing and controlling dangerous infectious diseases. The projects include expanding vaccinations; population and development; food safety; HIV/AIDS prevention and control; safe blood and blood-related disease prevention and control; and media management on healthcare. In terms of population issues, the healthcare sector will carry out measures to maintain a stable birthrate and increase population quality, as well as enhancing healthcare services to people in border and island areas, Mr. Lien affirmed. By 2020, the national healthcare program will be promoting information dissemination among health workers and people working in disease control. (moh.gov.vn Apr 14)