UK Helpage International, Vietnam Agencies Discuss Healthcare for Elderly

The UK-headquartered Helpage International, the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, and the General Office for Population and Family Planning held a workshop in Hanoi late last week to discuss measures to bolster fairness in healthcare for senior citizens, state media reported. The event’s participants discussed priorities and actions to enhance public healthcare to cope with population aging, towards sustainable development of the health sector. Assoc. Prof. Kim Bao Giang from Hanoi Medical University said healthcare for the elderly has been enshrined in Vietnam’s Constitution and the 2009 Law on the Elderly. As of the end of last year, 97 hospitals had departments dedicated to the treatment for elderly patients. He also pointed out some difficulties in healthcare for senior citizens, especially a gap in treatment of non-communicable diseases, support for the elderly, and shortage of personnel in the field. Mr. Vu Dinh Huy, an expert from the World Health Organization (WHO) said the population aging has affected universal health coverage target, which aims to ensure that everyone could use health services without risk of financial ruin or impoverishment. A recent report of the WHO showed that the rate of senior citizens in many countries including Vietnam is likely to exceed 30% in 2025. (Vietnam PlusEnglish, Suc Khoe Doi Song, ngaymoionline, baocantho, khoahocdoisong)