Vietnam Health Sector Seeks to Boost Effectiveness of ODA-funded Projects

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health held a conference Tuesday to discuss measures to enhance effectiveness of official development assistance (ODA)-funded projects, the Gia Dinh & Xa Hoi newspaper reported Mar. 31. The ministry will continue implementing a plan on healthcare service development between 2005 and 2010 and will map out a plan to develop the sector by 2015. Local authorities will keep boosting multilateral cooperation with international governmental and non-government organizations, aiming to attract investment and gain access to latest technologies. Addressing the event, foreign delegations highly appreciated the achievements that the ministry gained over the past years, the newspaper added. Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu also expressed thanks to international countries and institution worldwide for their assistance in Vietnam’s health sector during the period. In 2010, the Southeast Asian country will spend VND50 trillion ($2.62 billion) or 8.6% of the total state budget for the health sector.