At the signing of cooperation pact for the Healthy Lung programme between the Health Ministry and AstraZeneca company. (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – The Health
Ministry and AstraZeneca have signed a cooperation pact to implement the
“Healthy Lung” programme in Vietnam, funded by the multinational
biopharmaceutical company.
The signing ceremony for the
three-year programme took place in Hanoi on October 18.
The pact marked the health body’s
involvement in the 1-million-USD programme, which was launched last month by AstraZeneca,
the Vietnam Medical Association, the Vietnam Respiratory Society and the
Vietnam Association against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.
“Healthy Lung”, as part of an
AstraZeneca global initiative, aims to enhance management and public awareness
of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), contributing to
reducing cases and deaths.
Under the programme, AstraZeneca will
sponsor the building of 150 outpatient centres treating the diseases to
facilitate early detection and treatment. The outpatient treatment network is
expected to reduce economic and health care burdens for Vietnam.
Under the deal, the ministry will
work with AstraZeneca and other partners to hold training courses and seminars,
providing updated information for public health workers nationwide.
A national survey showed that about
4.2 percent of the Vietnamese population suffers from COPD, while many others are
yet to be diagnosed and treated due to poor infrastructure, limited public
awareness, and weak health sector capacity. The research said only 43.9 percent
of polled Vietnamese doctors could name four COPD diagnosis criteria.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
