The Ministry of Health of Vietnam recently organized a ceremony to award the medal "For people's health" to Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki, an expert from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and – Policy Advisor to the Health Ministry of Vietnam.

The presentation ceremony was held in Hanoi on March 1, in the presence of Vietnamese Health Minister Dao Hong Lan, Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Shige Watanabe, and First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam Sasaki Shohei.

Health Minister Dao Hong Lan presents the award to Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki. Photo: JICA Vietnam

This noble award is for Vietnamese and foreign individuals who have made great contributions to Vietnam's health sector.

During the working duration of two years from March 2022 to March 2024 at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Shobayashi has been highly appreciated with policy consulting activities in areas such as universal health insurance, prevention of infectious diseases, management and registration of medical equipment and drugs, training and employment of health personnel.

“Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki is very active in coordinating and connecting effective activities between the Ministry of Health of Vietnam with JICA and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. He has many times directly arranged working programs and supported working delegations of leaders of Vietnam's Health Ministry, leaders and experts of departments and agencies to Japan to learn Japanese experience in various fields in which he directly advises the industry on policies," stressed Minister Dao Hong Lan.

A number of projects supported by JICA for the health sector being implemented in Vietnam all have the active participation in terms of technical expertise of Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki, Lan said. Some specific projects such as viral hepatitis prevention project, a medical equipment support project for K Hospital, project to improve Telehealth remote medical examination and treatment capacity, among others. These projects are and will make an important contribution to the development of the health sector as well as the protection, care, and improvement of the health of the Vietnamese people.

During his two-year tenure in Vietnam, Dr. Shobayashi has visited 26 provinces and cities nationwide learned the status of the health service delivery system at provincial-district-commune levels, and given many useful recommendations to the Ministry of Health for narrowing the gap in health service quality among levels.

"We hope that after returning home, no matter what position, Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki will always support and continue to support, devoting a lot of love and enthusiasm to the Vietnamese health sector," Minister Dao Hong Lan added.

Dr. Shobayashi Tokuaki delivers a speech at the ceremony. Photo: JICA Vietnam

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Shobayashi was touched and expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Health. Although he faced some difficulties during his work in Vietnam sometimes, his colleagues at the Ministry of Health have always extended a trusted friendship to him and showed a huge expectation for learning Japanese experience in many areas.

Dr. Shobayashi has 30 years of experience in infectious disease control, health promotion, health insurance, hospital management, mental health, and maternal and child health care at the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan.

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