Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam hopes to get further support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to restructure and consolidate its preventive healthcare system, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said on May 13.

Hosting a reception for WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Ha laid stress on the significance of the system to providing initial healthcare and detecting diseases early on, and asked the Ministry of Health to cooperate, share its plans, programmes and activities that need consultations from the WHO.

As one of the 15 recipients of mRNA technology from the WHO, Vietnam needs more practical assistance so as to improve its research and production of vaccines, helping combat emerging diseases as well as re-emerging ones like measles and tuberculosis, and develop other products to serve locals’ demand for disease prevention and treatment, the deputy PM stressed.

He went on to say that Vietnam is interested in the production, purchase and distribution of medicine, vaccines and biologicals, recommending the WHO send experts to help the country complete purchasing and bidding mechanisms, regulations and procedures to ensure long-term and stable supply of pharmaceuticals.

The Vietnamese Government and people appreciated the WHO’s role in coordinating and connecting the whole world in the healthcare industry, he said, elaborating the country’s medical and healthcare policies have been backed by the consultation and assistance from the WHO specialists, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Describing healthcare security as a non-traditional security issue, Ha held that the policies must get on well with environmental protection.

With e-cigarettes, he assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health to evaluate the impact of them on public health, especially adolescents, and consider the WHO’s recommendations so as to work out suitable management solutions.

For his part, Saia Ma’u Piukala highlighted several priorities in WHO's support for Vietnam, particularly enhancing preventive healthcare system’s capacity, improving the environment, ensuring healthcare security and controlling e-cigarettes.

The healthier the people, the more sustainable socio-economic development the country secures, he said, pledging support for Vietnam in the public healthcare work that contributes to the regional and global sustainable development./.