VN and Russia strengthen cooperation in health care

VNGOVNet - From November 20-26, a Ministry of Health (MoH) delegation led by Minister Trần Thị Trung Chiến paid an official working visit to the Russian Federation and had talks with the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development on health care matters of common concerns, especially prevention of dangerous epidemics, training of medical staff and pharmaceutical cooperation. The two sides agreed that it is necessary to enhance their cooperation to further develop the two countries’ traditional friendship in many fields, particularly health care.

November 28, 2006 6:15 AM GMT+7

During the working trip, Vietnam’s MoH delegation visited and worked with a number of Russian medical institutions, clinics and pharmaceutical firms in order to learn, exchange and share experience.

To further promote the cooperation between the two countries in health care, the leaders of the two ministers signed a Memorandum on the establishment of a working team which consists of representatives from the two ministries. The team shall work on a bilateral ministerial-level Cooperation Agreement in six fields: training medical and pharmaceutical staff; pharmacy; prevention of infectious diseases; exchange of specialists; medical support in emergencies; and direct health cooperation. The Agreement is expected to be concluded on an official visit by the Russian Minister of Health and Social Development to Vietnam scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.

Minister Trần Thị Trung Chiến was awarded with the Honorary Doctorate by the Scientific Council of St. Petersburg State Medical Academy for her great contribution in health service, especially in control of SARS, which helped make Vietnam become the first country in the world to successfully contain this fatal epidemic and prevention of bird flu Type A (H5N1) in humans.

By Vân Anh

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs