Vietnam leads the Asia-Pacific region in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users, contributing to reducing the risk of HIV infection. This is one of 10 typical events of the health sector of 2023 recently announced by the Ministry of Health.

Specifically, in July 2023, the Health Ministry's delegation attended the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2023) in Australia. At this event, Vietnam was the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to commit to implementing the United Nations' 90-90-90 goal by 2020.

Doctor at Kien Giang province’s Centre for Disease Control provides consultation for HIV patients. Photo: VietnamPlus

Among the people living with HIV in Vietnam at present, 90% know their status, 80% who know their status are on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and 98.4% of those on ARV therapy have achieved viral suppression (less than 1000 copies/ml) to stay healthy and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

In particular, also in 2023, the Secretariat and the National Assembly have issued Directives and Resolutions to continue consolidating, perfecting, and improving the quality of grassroots healthcare operations in the new situation.

Next, the National Assembly passed the amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment effective from January 1, 2024.

The revised law aims to deal with shortcomings and emerging problems in medical examination and treatment activities in a bid to develop and improve the quality of medical services towards fairness, high efficiency, development, and international integration while strengthening State management over these activities.

Moreover, for the first time, the National Medical Council model is applied to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment and international integration.

The next typical event is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution to include the progenitor of Vietnamese traditional medicine Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac in the list of eminent personalities and historical events commemorated in 2023 - 2024.

​The resolution was passed by all UNESCO members, showing the clearest affirmation of the great contributions of Vietnamese people in the fields of education, health, culture, and society, and demonstrating their spread of talent and intelligence in the international arena, he said.

A health staff injects a dose of COVID-19 vaccination for a man. Photo: VNA

Covid-19 is no longer an infectious disease in Group A but was downgraded to Group B on October 20, proving Vietnam's success in preventing and fighting the pandemic. This is an important milestone recognizing Vietnam's success in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also in 2023, the Health Ministry has advised and developed many policies to remove difficulties in bidding and procurement of drugs, medical supplies, and vaccines; dismantling the payment mechanism for medical examination and treatment costs.

The health sector has strong administrative reform and digital transformation; many breakthroughs in surgery, treatment, improving the quality of medical examination and treatment to serve the people, and foreign affairs activities of the health sector have been promoted.

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