The environment in the news thursday, 22 May 2008
Lawmakers examine healthcare
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Lawmakers examine healthcare(21-05-2008) HA NOI — Members of the National Assembly yesterday contributed their varied ideas regarding the diversification of the country’s healthcare system. Most agreed with the Ministry of Health’s report stating that the process of encouraging investment in medicine from a variety of sectors had enhanced the quality of healthcare services. Still, many members proposed improvements to the current system. Sixty-two members registered to offer their opinions at the meeting yesterday afternoon and tomorrow morning. The report states that since 2005, the Government has saved more than VND2.6 trillion (US$162 million) by drawing investment to improve local healthcare systems. Between 2002 and 2007, the Government spent VND4.75 trillion ($286 million) to support low-income communities’ implementation of the national programme for preventing and fighting dangerous diseases including HIV/AIDS. According to the report to the National Assembly, read by Minister of Health Nguyen Quoc Trieu, the extensive investment in health care in recent years has allowed for advances in the quality and range of services available. There are now more than 30,000 private health clinics and 66 non-State hospitals. State healthcare staff members work in every commune and ward, and 45 per cent of these localities have medical centres that meet the national standards. Many National Assembly members from mountainous areas, however, claimed that the number of healthcare workers was insufficient to meet the people’s needs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said that the current rate of 4.1 doctors per 10,000 people in her Central Highlands province of Gia Lai was too low, and the Government should create programmes to encourage more young doctors to work in remote mountainous areas. Nguyen Van Sy from the central province of Quang Nam suggested the parliament issue a special resolution on healthcare services. "The non-public healthcare system should be supplemental to, not a replacement for, the public system," he said. He stressed improving the local healthcare system to reduce the burden on hospitals in urban areas. At the central hospital in Quang Nam Province, for example, an average of two patients share each single bed. In order to ensure more low-income earners received 50 per cent discounts on healthcare fees, Sy suggested the Government adjust the qualifying criteria. The existing criteria is earning an income below VND200,000 ($13) per head per month in rural areas and VND260,000 ($16.25) in urban area, which Sy asserted was too high to realistically encompass the nation’s poor. Le Dung from the southern province of Tien Giang proposed the National Assembly Standing Committee issue a law on controlling and preventing the use of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. The use of these substances not only harmed people’s health, he said, but also consumed State budget funds by fuelling social problems related to misconduct. This morning, the National Assembly approved the resolution on the State budget spending in 2006 and the resolution on closing some vocational training centres for former drug abusers in HCM City and some other provinces. Earlier, the National Assembly discussed the revised law on publishing. Most members agreed the changes and updated details overcame the limitations of the existing Publishing Law and ensured Viet Nam’s compliance with the WTO regulations. The National Assembly tomorrow will continue to discuss legislative policies on healthcare and the bill on civil service. — VNS http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01HEA210508 Back to Menu _________________________________________________________________________ RONA MEDIA UPDATE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS Wednesday 21 May 2008 
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