France and Vietnam co-operate in chronic disease management
VOV.VN - Chronic diseases are a global concern, meaning France and Vietnam should work together to seek long-term solutions to this issue, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet said on January 22 at a workshop held in Hanoi to discuss how to improve the management of chronic diseases in the country.
Amid continued economic development, people’s improved living conditions, and better health services, new health challenges have also emerged.
Chronic diseases Such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses have been on the rise, requiring both sides further boost ties in this field since the health problems strongly impact people’s life, he went on.
Describing health care as one of the outstanding pillars of bilateral links, the Ambassador elaborated that more than 3,000 Vietnamese doctors have received training in France, while many joint research projects have been carried out.
He considers the workshop, held by the French Embassy, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam and Vietnam Social Security (VSS), as a demonstration of the common determination to further strengthen ties in health care, including sharing experience in and devising better policies on the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of chronic diseases.
The diplomat called on the two countries to reinforce partnerships in researching new pharmaceuticals, therapies, and treatment approaches, adding that the Embassy will assist French businesses to bolster ties with partners in the nation.
In his speech, Nguyen Duc Hoa, deputy general director of the VSS, noted the Vietnamese Government has increased investment in grassroots health care, including the prevention, management, and treatment of non-communicable diseases.
The health insurance coverage has been expanded, from 47% of the population in 2008 to 93.35% in 2023, towards reaching the goal of full coverage. The health insurance fund plays an increasingly important role to play in healthcare spending, he said.
However, the official also pointed out certain challenges, including unchanged levels of insurance premiums since 2009, continually increased benefits for insurance contributors, rising expenses of insurance-covered medical services, fast population aging, growing non-communicable diseases, and mounting costs for chronic disease treatment.
Given this, learning international experience in building health insurance policies is always a priority of the VSS, Hoa added.
At the workshop, participants shared other countries’ experience in chronic disease management. They also suggested policies on the management of those diseases and the health insurance fund.
