The health program of German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and its partners from the Administration for Medical Services (AMS) under the Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) hosted an annual review meeting in Hanoi on March 13. The event also marked the kick-off of the second phase of the cooperation program as well as providing a forum of exchange on topics crucial for strengthening the health system of Vietnam. Participants have discussed achievements and lessons related to program implementation in 2013 in the five GIZ partner provinces: Phu Yen, Thanh Hoa, Yen Bai, Nghe An and Thai Binh where 17% to 36% of the population are considered poor. Outlooks on future activities will also be given. Thematic inputs will concentrate on quality management in the health sector of Vietnam. In an interactive session, supported district hospitals will demonstrate best practice examples of various quality improvement measures introduced during the implementation of the program. Furthermore, by introducing new national guidelines on hospital quality management and common cases of medical errors, participants will familiarize with these issues for future application in daily practice. The Vietnamese-German Development Cooperation’s health program “Strengthening provincial health systems” has supported Vietnamese partners since 2009 and is commissioned and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). On behalf of BMZ, the program is implemented by GIZ. During the implementation period from 2013 to 2015, the program aims at strengthening the capacity of provincial Departments of Health and decentralized health facilities in cost efficient health management and needs-based delivery of quality health services, with a major focus on preventive and curative services for women living in poverty-affected areas. “By supporting the decentralize level of the health system in five of the poorest provinces in Vietnam, the health program has contributed to less crowded central hospitals and has allowed improved health service delivery on provincial and district level”, Dr. Tran Quy Tuong, National Program Director described one of the major achievements since the beginning of the cooperation between the two nations. (www.dangcongsan.vn [1] March 14)
