Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Local and international health policymakers andexperts from health management agencies, research institutes and serviceproviders have discussed solutions to strengthen Vietnam’s healthsystem sustainability and resilience at a workshop.

The March 17 workshop was part of the Global Summit of the Partnership for Health SystemSustainability and Resilience. It was coorganised by AstraZeneca Vietnam andthe Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI).

HSPI researchers presented their newly published a report on the sustainabilityand resilience of the Vietnamese health system, with crucial policyrecommendations to enhance benefits for Vietnamese people.

Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Vice Minister of Health, said via a video message: “Vietnamhas worked tirelessly to enhance its health system, aiming towards equality,efficiency, quality and sustainability, and meeting the people’s healthcareneeds.”

“However, the health system is facing many challenges with the double burden ofdiseases and an aging population,” Thuan added.

“It needs to be continuously improved to ensure its sustainable development andability to respond to future difficulties and challenges."

Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, said: “Wehope the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR)will provide a platform to both highlight Vietnam’s best practice in COVID-19response to the world, and allow the Vietnamese health system to look withinand identify room for further enhancements.”

Dr. Tran Thi Mai Oanh, director of HSPI and PHSSR Vietnam lead researcher,said: “We are pleased to be among the first countries in the world to pioneerthe London School of Economics’ new framework on health system sustainabilityand resilience.”

“It is our hope that our evidence-based report will provide a deeper and morecomprehensive view of Vietnam’s health system according to the five domains:governance, financing, workforce, medicines and technology, and servicedelivery, and that our proposed solutions will inform upcoming high-levelhealth policy discussions and agendas to create meaningful changes.”

Prof. Alistair McGuire, London School of Economics, joining virtually from theUK, emphasised the important role that Vietnam plays in the global PHSSRinitiative, and hoped that the project could soon be expanded to other Asiancountries.

During the summit session, Swedish Ambassador Ann Måwe and British DeputyAmbassador Marcus Winsley emphasised the vital role of cross-border cooperationduring COVID-19 and beyond. Other speakers echoed and contributed to the HSPI’srecommendations to continue prioritising grassroots healthcare development andprimary healthcare, and initiatives to achieve universal health coverage andincrease public participation in health policy development and monitoring./.