Vietnam, Italy Boost Healthcare Cooperation

Italia wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam in healthcare services, especially in medical researches and technology applications, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Lorenzo Angeloni said. Angeloni made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien in Hanoi June 8 to introduce the development potential of Italy’s Tuscany region as well as cooperative opportunities between Vietnamese and Italian businesses.  Tien expressed her hope that the Italian side will assist Vietnam in medical services and health insurance system. Early this year, a delegation from Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics paid a working visit to Tuscany region to enhance cooperation and exchanges of health workers and advanced medical technology transfers. The ministry is also calling for further investment in healthcare and pharmaceutical production that is considered promising sectors amid the rapid economic development, Nguyen Viet Hung, deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration, said. Vietnam has so far attracted a total of $1.11 billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 76 health and social support projects, showed statistics by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Italian firms have poured EUR76 million into 21 projects in Vietnam over the past years. (suckhoedoisong.vn June 8)