Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long

PM Phuc spoke highly of efforts made by the health sector in preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked for greater endeavours from the sector to protect and take care of the people's health.

The sector was tasked with effectively control the coronavirus disease, prevent it from breaking out again, as well as other infectious diseases such as diphtheria, dengue fever, seasonal flu and cholera.

Attention should be also paid to completing policies and financial mechanisms to improve the quality and efficiency of medical services, and reduce hospital overloads, he said.

It is also necessary to well manage costs for medical services, pharmaceuticals, food, medical supplies and equipment; and ensure publicity and transparency in management of drug licensing, bidding and procurement; and improve the quality of food safety, especially at kitchens in schools and industrial parks, he added.

PM Phuc asked the sector to do more to expand the coverage of universal health insurance and health insurance payment, and take care of policy beneficiaries such as the poor, people with difficult circumstances, and those with meritorious services to the country, towards ensuring that all people can get initial health care services.

For his part, Long promised that the ministry will focus on successfully implementing the tasks assigned by the Party and people.

He also demonstrated the determination to promote digital transformation in the sector with programmes such as remote medical examination and treatment, medical publicity, control of communal-level medical stations, and personal medical record management.

The sector will also speed up administrative reform to make it easier for people to access health care services, he affirmed.

While presenting the decision to Dat, PM Phuc asked the science and technology sector to focus on promoting practical connection between enterprises, research institutes and universities towards narrowing the gap between production and business.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat

He also urged the sector to propose breakthroughs in management mechanism in the field, while stressing the need to make science and technology a direct production and business force to improve productivity and quality.

Minister Dat affirmed that he will do his utmost to further promote achievements and results made by the ministry in recent years.

He also pledged to perform the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister, focusing on enhancing cooperation among domestic and foreign scientists in exploiting and developing national science and technology potential.

Appointment decision presented to new governor of central bank

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on November 16 presented the State President’s decision to appoint Nguyen Thi Hong as the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

At the event, PM Phuc highly valued the SBV’s proactive, drastic and timely actions to assist people and businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic such as debt repayment deadline extension, interest reduction, and fee exemption.

He asked the new governor to build on her predecessors’ achievements and lead the banking sector to fulfill its duties.

The SBV needs to push ahead with efforts to ensure the control of inflation, macro-economic stability, and stable value of the domestic currency. It also has to increase inspection to guarantee the banking system’s safety, curb the increase of non-performing loans (NPLs), address the existing NPLs, and apply modern technology to develop banking products and services.

For her part, Hong thanked leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government for entrusting the position to her, pledging to help the central bank fulfill its tasks.

Earlier, the parliament had approved her for this position.

Hong, 52, is the 15th Governor of the SBV and also the first woman to hold this post in the history of Vietnam’s banking system./.VNA