Ministry issues urgent dispatch on COVID-19 prevention, control
The Ministry of Health on April 12 sent an urgent dispatch on strengthening the prevention and control of COVID-19 to the People's Committees of all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health on April 12 sent an urgentdispatch on strengthening the prevention and control of COVID-19 to thePeople's Committees of all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities.
According to the document, from April 5-11, the countryreported 639 new cases, or around 90 cases a day – a 3.8-fold increase comparedto that of seven day ago. Notably, the number of patients aged above 50accounts for 30.2% of the total cases.
The number of patients hospitalised is also on the rise,while the rate of vaccination in several localities fails to meet set targets.
To prevent the pandemic from breaking out again, the HealthMinistry requested the local People’s Committees to continue directing andstrictly following instructions of the Government and the Prime Minister on theprevention and control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
A boy gets vaccinated against COVID-19 (Photo: VNA)
More efforts are needed to accelerate the vaccinationprocess, keep a close watch on the pandemic developments, and ready responsemeasures.
Localities are required to direct the organisation ofreceiving, caring for and treating patients, especially high-risk groups suchas pregnant women, people with underlying diseases, and the elderly.
In addition, attention must be paid to raising people's awareness of protecting their health and that of their families andcommunities./.
World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Vietnam Dr Angela Pratt has said that Vietnam is in the sustainable management phase of the COVID-19 pandemic as the situation continues to stabilise with a very low number of reported daily cases, and importantly no reported deaths in over two months.
Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Natalia Kanem has written an article on the occasion of the World Health Day (April 7), in which she calls for joint efforts in upholding the right of all people to reach the highest possible standard of health.
More than 236 trillion VND (10 billion USD) had been mobilised to directly serve the COVID-19 prevention and control as of December 31, 2022, according to a report by a National Assembly (NA) supervisory delegation.
Vietnam now boasts a nationwide healthcare network with 1,665 hospitals, 384 of which are non-public, supported by local commune- and ward-level stations. At the end of 2024, hospital bed capacity reached 34 per 10,000 people, slightly above the global average.
The 56-year-old patient from Quang Tri province was discharged in stable condition as he no longer experienced shortness of breath and was able to walk, move around, and eat normally.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
TytoCare, a leading Israeli telemedicine company based in Netanya, is willing to work with Vietnamese regulators, insurers, and healthcare providers to develop a sustainable digital health ecosystem.
The partnership is under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development and implementation of the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, signed in Hanoi on July 22.
An estimated 7 million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50% remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99% coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80% in 2023. Immunisation coverage in the country has not only rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic but has now surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.
Health authorities in HCM City have issued an urgent alert after six people died from dengue fever, amid a spike in infections driven by the onset of the rainy season.
During the peak months of July and August 2025, the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) needs at least 90,000 units of blood to supply 180 hospitals in the northern region. However, despite continuous efforts, the reserve blood is still short of 30,000 units.
The Hanoi ceremony highlighted efforts to ensure all citizens, especially women and youth, can access accurate information and healthcare services to make informed reproductive choices.
After such a long time, the law has revealed many limitations, prompting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to gather opinions to amend the law to give more chances to thousands of patients every year.
Currently, cardiovascular specialists from the 108 Military Central Hospital are working alongside a team of Prof.Dr. Jan D. Schmitto, Deputy Director of MHH’s Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery on clinical trials for MCS devices, implanted in heart failure patients either as a bridge to transplantation or as permanent treatment.
The centre not only serves residents living on the island, but also receives tens of thousands of visitors every year, according to Assoc Prof Dr Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the HCM CIty Department of Health.
Not only does Vietnam attract international tourists with its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, but it is also gradually becoming a reliable destination for medical treatment, offering high-quality services at reasonable costs.
Over the past six months, 150 communal health stations in provinces including Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau have been equipped with information technology systems. In addition, 117 key provincial healthcare workers have received training, with thousands more expected to follow.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Ministry of Health swiftly launched a telemedicine programme, connecting more than 1,000 medical establishments nationwide. The model, which remains in operation, has benefited tens of thousands of patients, including foreign nationals.
After more than three weeks of intensive treatment, the patient's pneumonia improved, breathing stabilised, sedation was reduced, and the breathing tube was removed. He is now conscious, able to eat orally, and in recovery.
Dorctors care for a COVID-19 patient (Photo: VNA) 
A boy gets vaccinated against COVID-19 (Photo: VNA) 
