Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA)
– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has demanded Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan to consult
with experts on solutions to handle the
current and medical supplies, thus giving appropriate and timely directions for this
issue at medical examination
and treatment facilities.
According to Document
No. 514/VPCP-KGVX dated August 24, 2022, PM Chinh requested the Acting Minister
of Health to carefully assess recommendations of experts in order to direct the
implementation of proper solutions.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Previously, the Government Portal hosted a seminar on measure to address the shortages of medicines and medical supplies, during which participants pointed out causes of the
shortages of medicines and medical supplies, and proposed to the issue.
They underlined the
need to assess the extent and situation of drug shortages at all levels from
central health establishments to local facilities, and determine the cause of medicine
shortages at each unit.
A number of contents
related to medicine prices in
the Pharmacy Law, and provisions of the
need to be considered, they said.
The Ministry of Health
was reminded to urgently amend and soon issue circulars related to bidding
instructions, drug registration and prices; and guidelines for procurement of
medical equipment, including medical supplies.
Issues under the
authority of the MoH, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Planning and
Investment, which remain stuck and affect relevant bidding activities, must be
reviewed, participants said.
They also emphasised
the necessity to improve the capacity and responsibility of agencies relating
to the bidding work, strengthen the state governance at all levels, and promote
the application of IT in this work.
According to Dao Khanh
Tung, a representative from the UN Develoent Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, the State can significantly save on drug costs in the way that UNDP has been
supporting countries.
Specifically,
every two years, UNDP will organise a global tender, then negotiate with
manufacturers and suppliers of drugs and medical supplies around the world to
help poor and developing countries access to the right supply of generic drugs,
brand-name medicines and other medical goods at their right prices.
UNDP’s such support
is to minimise the intermediary stages, and ensure transparency of the price,
thus benefiting not only patients but also countries whose budgets are
already tight, Tung said./.
Source: VietnamPlus
