Friendship Order bestowed upon Dr. Shin Young-soo - WHO Regional Director

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on November 21 to present the Friendship Order to Dr. Shin Young-soo, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, for his contributions to Vietnam’s healthcare sector.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien presented Friendship Order to Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. (Photo: WHO VietnamNa-Son Nguyen)

The honour, approved by the President, is given to foreign inpiduals and collectives that have made great contributions to building, consolidating, and developing the friendship between Vietnam and other countries around the world.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien underlined that during his 10 years as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr. Shin has played a key role and worked with the Vietnamese Government to deliver its vision of national health service.

“Dr. Shin, as WHO Regional Director, has walked hand in hand with the Government of Vietnam as we strengthened our primary health care system. He had direct engagement in policy dialogues – not only within the health sector, but also with the National Assembly – and provided strategic guidance that had played a critical role as we continue to advance our journey towards universal health coverage,” said Tien.

He has provided support and consultations to the Ministry of Health to build reform policies for Vietnam’s healthcare system, she noted, adding that the WHO official has directly helped Vietnam devise and review the law on health insurance, the law on prevention and control of tobacco harms, and the recent law on preventing and combating harmful effects of alcohol and beer, among others.

In response, Dr. Shin said he has been to Vietnam 15 times during his 10-year term. He expressed his delight that health coverage in Vietnam has witnessed significant progress over the years, with 87 per cent of its population joining health insurance at present.

“It is wonderful to see the progress that has been made towards universal health coverage in Viet Nam over the last decade – thanks to political commitment at the highest levels. From 60 per cent of people with health insurance coverage, we are now at 87 per cent. I hope that you will reach 100 per cent in the not too distant future. And just as importantly – I hope that strong primary health care services continue to be a central part of the health reform agenda,” Dr. Shin said.

He voiced his hope that all Vietnamese people will join the national health insurance scheme in the coming time and that qualified initial healthcare services will be paid due attention in the country’s healthcare reform.

Dr. Shin has served as the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific since 2009./.

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