Vietnam highlights

The Hanoitimes - Lawmakers largely attributed severe floods in the central region recently to poor planning of small-scale hydropower plants. Vietnam’s lawmakers have urged the government to thoroughly review hydropower planning nationwide for sustainable management following severe flooding and fatal landslides in the central region late last month that are largely believed to stem from poor planning of small-scale hydropower stations. The Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to make all-encompassing assessment of the investment of small- and medium-size hydroelectric plants in the north, the central region, and Central Highlands, lawmakers said at the National Assembly (NA)’s ongoing month-long plenum. They demanded the removal of ineffective projects out of the National Power Plan by 2030. Voices from lawmakers Lawmaker Nguyen Thi Xuan. Photo: Quochoi Lawmaker Nguyen Thi Xuan from Dak Lak province pointed out some consequences resulted from the development of these projects, including drought and flooding when the dams store and discharge water, legalized exploitation of timber under the guise of hydropower, transfer of hydroelectric projects to other investors after exploiting mineral resources. She said the parliament needs to establish task forces to supervise the afforestation while the government has to increase funding the afforestation and add it to the socio-economic development of the mountainous areas and ethnic minorities in 2021-2030. Lawmaker Phan Thai Binh from Quang Nam province demanded environmental impact assessment (EIA) by the government to ensure the safety of both hydroelectric dams and irrigation dams. Lawmaker Hoang Duc Thang. Photo: Quochoi Lawmaker Hoang Duc Thang from Quang Tri province attributed severe floods in the central region largely to the development of hydropower. He said hydropower-related deforestation has caused bare land, soil erosion, flash flood, …

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Last year was very taxing for the healthcare sector as the pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health. How has AstraZeneca Vietnam contributed to increasing patient access over the past year? Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam While it has been a real test to the world, our innovative and patient-centric spirit has helped us not only rise to the unique challenges posed by the pandemic but also ensure that we leave no patients or healthcare professionals behind in this trying time. As we are celebrating Doctors’ Day in Vietnam, I want to thank all the doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff for their tireless efforts to keep us safe. Globally and in Vietnam, AstraZeneca is committed to ensuring broad and equitable access to our COVID-19 vaccine. We are proud and thankful for the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Drug Administration of Vietnam’s conditional authorisation of our COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca for emergency use. We are partnering with Vietnam Vaccine JSC to deliver 30 million doses of the vaccine to the country, starting from the first half of 2021. To support Vietnam’s healthcare system when it faced great shortages, last year AstraZeneca donated 400,000 medical masks to the MoH and personal protective equipment to the National Hospital for Tropical Disease. Our contributions to Vietnam’s fight against the pandemic were recognised with the Minister of Health’s Award of Excellence. In July, our major structural and operational transformation was completed when we became one of the first pharmaceutical multinationals to successfully transition to a foreign-invested enterprise and sign a landmark local distribution partnership. This change has allowed us to better deliver our innovative, high quality medicines to millions of Vietnamese patients. We have also accelerated our digital transformation, reaching over 80,000 healthcare …

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The Hanoitimes - The program is even more meaningful as the country is combating the Covid-19 pandemic, in which many doctors and nurses are devoting their utmost efforts to cure the infected people and rescue the most critical patients. An art event entitled “Only love remains” will broadcast live on VTV2 channel of Vietnam Television at 9pm on February 26 on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctor’s Day (February 27). The 90-minute event is expected to highlight outstanding achievements of Vietnamese doctors and instill a sense of pride and admiration among audiences. The art performance is a once-in-a-year occasion for the Party, government and Vietnamese people to appreciate achievements and great efforts made by doctors, scientists and medical staffs who overcame many difficulties and hardships to fulfill their tasks, and encourage them to contribute more to the nations’ healthcare system. The “Only love remains” art performance also honors the outstanding individuals who have great contributions to the Vietnamese medicine, including Doctor Nguyen Tai Thu, the renowned acupuncture master who passed away some days ago. Late professor Nguyen Tai Thu - Photo: Kinh te & Do thi. Thu's life and work story featured in the program will bring to the audience an authentic perspective on medical ethics of the acupuncturist. Late professor Thu is a leading Vietnamese acupuncturist who developed acupuncture into a scientific and academic technique applied locally and around the world. His contributions to Vietnamese acupuncture will never be forgotten and are being passed on by the next generations. The professor is also renowned as “the doctor of the poor”. Thu spent most of his time studying acupuncture therapies and helping poor people. He mobilised financial resources to offer free treatment for poor children with disabilities or hereditary complications. The program is even more meaningful as the country …

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