Hanoi(VNA) – The development of grass-roots medical work and provision of healthservices to all people are a focal assignment of the health sector in 2017,stated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

The PM made thestatement when attending the Health Ministry’s conference to set out tasks for2017 in Hanoi on January 12.

He lauded thesector’s outcomes last year, including preventive healthcare that let nooutbreak of diseases take place.

The sector hasworked to ease overcrowded conditions at major hospitals as well as improvemedical facilities and human resources capacity, he added.

He highlighted 61percent of population was covered with health insurance in Vietnam last year, sayingit surpassed the goal set for 2020.

He pointed toprogress made in health financing mechanism and food safety, the completion ofthe mechanism for drug auctions, as well as the punishment facing 6,000 medicalstaff with wrongdoing.

Phuc also talkedabout the sector’s shortcomings, including cramped hospitals as a pressingissue and medical accidents due to negligence and poor competence of medicalworkers.

According to thePrime Minister, hospital management remains weak, with monopoly spotted in inmany associated services, such as the provision of taxis, food and beverage.Meanwhile, red tape has caused trouble for patients, and the building of manycentrally run hospitals has fallen behind schedule.

He pointed tovested interest and lack of transparency in purchasing medical equipment andmanaging the medicine market, citing an example of a clinic in Ca Mau thatreported a loss of more than 100 billion VND (4.4 million USD).

He recommendedthat measures to reduce medicine prices is necessary.

As a task for2017, Phuc urged the sector to simplify its administrative procedures andhospitals to make public their performances and service quality.

The sector has tofocus on the implementation of its project to improve quality of medical testsand accelerate the construction of centrally run hospitals, he stressed.

He said the HealthMinistry ought to facilitate the establishment of non-public medical facilitiesand pilot operating public-private units.

The expansion ofhealth insurance coverage in line with improved service quality is also a must,he added.-VNA