In an effort to lower the pressure on central hospitals, the sector will improve facilities, human resources and infrastructure at local ones. Specifically, all communes will have medical clinics.

In addition, money from government bonds will be spent on upgrading 621 district clinics, 16 provincial polyclinics and some specialized hospitals. The move is supposed to help local residents access to qualified healthcare services.

According to the Health Minister, thanks to the expansion of the public healthcare system to remote areas, 80% of local clinics will meet national standards and 80% of patients will enjoy medical treatment through health insurance cards.

The sector intends to build an institute for testing food hygiene and safety for North Việt Nam and develop others in the central and southern regions as planned.

Moreover, investigations and inspections over food hygiene at production and distribution establishments which provide food in big quantity to kitchens of factories, enterprises, schools and markets.

Finally, the Health Minister underlined the sector’s determination to produce vaccines against A/H5N1 and A/H1N1 in the year of 2010./.

(Source: VGP)