Novellas healthcare uk

As assessed by the European-American Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), this is a really impressive growth rate in the context of many trading partners of Vietnam encountering difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an optimistic signal is even more meaningful in light of the fact that the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) has been temporarily applied since January 1, 2021, promising to continue creating new motivation for bilateral economic-trade cooperation in the near future.

In the structure of Vietnam’s export items to the UK, agricultural exports retained stable and positive growth, with seafood exports reaching US$19.72 million (up over 18% year-on-year) and fruit exports hitting more than US$1 million (up 148.6%). These are all commodity industries with many opportunities for increased export value through tariff preferences as prescribed by the UKVFTA.

According to UKVFTA commitments, the import tax on most raw shrimp (fresh, frozen, chilled) into the UK will be reduced from the basic tax rate of 10-20% to 0% as soon as the agreement comes into force. For vegetables and fruits, it will immediately eliminate 94% of the total 547 tariff lines. Many products of Vietnam’s strength such as litchi, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, pineapple and melon, will have more market access advantages compared to tropical fruits originating from competing countries like Brazil, Thailand, and Malaysia which have not signed an FTA with the UK.

The manufacturing industry also registered amazing growth regarding its January exports to the UK, with US$252.59 million of phones and spare parts (up more than 371% year-on-year); US$74.58 million of machinery, equipment and spare parts (up nearly 110%); US$31.82 million of computers and electronic components (up 91%); and US$15.96 million of iron and steel of various types (up 11%).

Meanwhile, Vietnam imported over US$59 million worth of products from the UK last month, up 34.3% compared to January 2020. Some commodity groups posted remarkable year-on-year growth in terms of turnover, including metals (excluding steel) (US$467,000, up more than 1,462%), pesticides and raw materials (US$1.04 million, up over 505%), and garment & textile materials (more than US$3 million, up more than 131%).

Vietnam continued to enjoy a trade surplus with the UK market in January, at an estimated US$598 million, representing an increase of 113% over the same period last year.

In 2020, Vietnam-UK trade reached US$5.64 billion, with Vietnam exporting US$4.95 billion of products and enjoying a trade surplus of US$4.27 billion. The UK continued to be the third largest trading partner of Vietnam in Europe, after Germany and the Netherlands.

In terms of investment, by the end of December 2020, the UK has 411 projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$3.84 billion, ranking 15 ^th among the 139 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country. The UK’s projects mainly focus on the areas of banking-finance, oil and renewable energy.

Citing data from Vietnam Customs, the Europe-America Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said export-import turnover between Vietnam and the U.K. in January reached over $657 million.

Vietnam exported to the U.K. over $598 million worth of goods, an increase of 84.6 percent from January last year and 56.5 percent from December. This growth amid an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic showed the promise of Vietnam-U.K. Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which came into effect on Dec. 31 last year, said the ministry.

As per the agreement, the U.K. would remove import taxes on 99.2 percent of tariff lines within six years, equivalent to 99.7 percent of Vietnam’s export turnover to the country. The EU had already promised Vietnam a tariff rate quota (TRQ) with an import tax of 0 percent for some products, while export industries expected to benefit greatly from this agreement include seafood, rice, textiles, wood, vegetables and footwear.

In January, the ministry said some major products exported from Vietnam to the U.K. included seafood, vegetables, phone parts, computers and electric components, all of which increased from the same period last year.

In return, imports from the U.K to Vietnam reached over $59.3 million, a 34.3 percent increase year-on-year. Some major products included metal, pesticide and textile materials, according to the ministry.

Last year, export-import turnover between the two countries reached $5.64 billion, in which Vietnam’s exports to the U.K. reached $4.95 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.27 billion. The U.K. continued to be Vietnam’s third-biggest trade partner in Europe, behind Germany and the Netherlands.

By December last year, the U.K. had 411 investments projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of $3.84 billion, ranking it 15th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Important projects include those regarding finance, banking and renewable energy.

The UKVFTA was signed in London on Dec. 29 last year to maintain Vietnam and the U.K.’s existing relationship once the Brexit transition period ends on Dec. 31.

By Generali Vietnam

The health sector is confronted with many difficulties, challenges and opportunities for development. With its long-standing traditions, the entire health sector will constantly strive to rise above to serve the country and the people and fulfill all its assigned tasks, thus living up to the trust given it by the Party and people.

In 2020, the world witnessed the rampage of the COVID-19 pandemic with over 105 million cases globally and more than 2.3 million fatalities, affecting all aspects of life. In Vietnam, with the detailed and mindful direction of the Party and the Government; the involvement of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, ministries, departments, branches and localities; and especially the unanimity and active participation of people from all strata of society, the pandemic has ben proactively controlled and contained. In particular, the health sector upheld the tradition of solidarity, creativity and willingness to stand firmly in all hot spots and successfully control the outbreaks, minimise the number of deaths, and curb the spread of the disease. Thanks to this, we have achieved the dual goal of effectively containing the pandemic and maintaining economic development.

In addition to contributing to successes in the fight against the pandemic, with an innovative mindset, the health sector also made many breakthroughs in order to better serve the people. The inception of a remote medical examination and treatment system connecting 1,500 hospitals helps the people access higher-level medical services right at grassroots level, while 97.5 million health records were set up, creating a premise upon which to develop a smart health system. The whole sector actively implemented digital transformation with the introduction of a series of digital health platforms and applications, and the publicisation of drug , medical equipment and service prices, making it more favourable for the people and businesses alike. 2020 also saw innovation in the form of advanced techniques in organ transplantation and conjoined twin separation surgery.

The health sector has determined 2021 as a starting milestone in the process of implementing strong and comprehensive reforms in the sector. This is the first year to implement the Resolution of the 13 ^th National Party Congress and the health sector has been assigned important tasks on caring for and protecting the people’s health in the new situation. The pandemic continues to evolve in a complicated and unpredictable manner globally, with the potential risk of further spreading in Vietnam. Right from the beginning of 2021, COVID-19 resurged in the provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh and spread to 11 other localities nationwide. The fight against the “COVID-19 enemy” is getting tougher with new strains of SARS-CoV-2 spreading faster. Therefore, the whole sector needs to rapidly and comprehensively reform its activities, while inheriting good traditions and promoting its intelligence and solidarity in order to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13 ^th National Party Congress and continue ensuring a safe environment for the successful realisation of the Government’s dual goal for a second consecutive year.

One of the most urgent tasks for the heath sector in 2021 is to continue effectively battling the pandemic as its third wave broke out in Hai Duong and a number of cities and provinces. Promoting the COVID-19 fight experience, we once again mobilised the participation of the entire political system, and have basically brought the disease under control in most localities after just over three weeks. Under the direction of the Government and the National Steering Committee, the Ministry of Health has continued to coordinate closely and promptly support localities to quickly take control of the disease, while working to soon bring vaccines to Vietnam to serve the people as well as strongly accelerating the domestic research into and testing of vaccines.

Second, step up preventive medicine and the fight against the pandemic; promote successes and lessons learnt in battling the disease and quelling the outbreaks; establish regional disease control centres; build in-depth research establishments on epidemiology and pathogens; promote community-based programmes on protecting health and preventing infectious and non-communicable diseases; and implement health target programmes as well as the sustainable development goal on health.

Third, improve the quality of medical examination and treatment towards patients’ satisfaction; facilitate people’s access to quality medical services; strengthen administrative reforms in medical examination and treatment; increase investment in medical facilities; speed up the implementation of comprehensive care with patients placed at the centre of services; reduce overloads on central-level hospitals; and enhance the development of traditional medicine.

Fourth, strengthen and strongly reform grassroots healthcare in the new situation towards implementing universal health coverage; improve capacity for grassroots healthcare; implement projects to train medical human resources for remote, mountainous and island areas; implement universal health management; and carry out the community-based healthcare programmes for the elderly..

Fifth, comprehensively reform the development of medical human resources; strengthen the social responsibilities of medical workers; improve welfare policies for health workers, especially those working at grassroots health facilities in remote, mountainous and disadvantaged areas; and promote medical workers’ creativity and working spirit in the cause of caring for and protecting the people’s health.

Sixth, continue to upgrade medical establishments; strengthen management, publicity and transparency in health insurance implementation; and care for policy beneficiaries, the poor, those facing special circumstances, revolutionary contributors and the elderly, ensuring that all people have equal access to health care services.

Seventh, strengthen the management of pharmaceuticals, food and medical equipment; ensuring publicity and transparency in the management, licensing, bidding, and procurement of drugs and medical equipment; publicise the prices of medicines, medical equipment, and medical examination and treatment services; accelerate the domestic production of drugs and medical equipment; promote the development of medicinal materials; tighten food safety management; and strengthen the inspection of medical units’ bidding and procurement implementation and strictly handle all violations.

Eighth, implement the health sector master plan until 2045 to ensure Vietnam’s health system develops on a par with other countries in the world; continue to streamline the medical apparatus to ensure equal development among different regions; develop medical facilities that are capable of competing against others globally; and boost the integration of medical activities with socio-economic development.

Ninth, improve medical ethics among medical officials and workers, especially young doctors; continue to accelerate the study and following of Uncle Ho’s thought, morality and lifestyle; and promptly implement reward policies to encourage medical workers and strictly punish any violations of medical ethics.

Tenth, step up scientific research and international cooperation, including basic science and applied sciences in medicine; strengthen investment in research activities at universities, research institutes and medical examination and treatment establishments; strongly promote the application of Industry 4.0 achievements in medicine; accelerate the research and production of vaccines, medicines and medical equipment; strengthen the role and position of Vietnam’s health sector in the international arena; boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation and attract resources and professional & technical assistance from developed countries; and strongly promote professional cooperation between domestic schools, institutes and hospitals and countries around the world.

Celebrating the 66th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors’ Day amidst the complicated and unpredictable COVID-19 context, more than ever, health workers throughout the country must be more determined to respond to the calls of the Party General Secretary and State President as well as the Prime Minister on successfully implementing the dual goal of fighting the pandemic and promoting economic development.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long

Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Health

UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva

The incident is the latest illustration of how businesses, charities and other organisations in democratic Taiwan find themselves frozen out of international bodies because of pressure by Beijing.

The Taipei-based Chinese Wild Bird Federation (CWBF) said BirdLife International voted last week to remove it, ending a partnership that had been in place since 1996.

CWBF said it was informed that its Chinese name — which contains Taiwan’s official title the Republic of China — “posed a risk” to the UK-based BirdLife.

The group, which had previously changed its English name to satisfy BirdLife, said it had been willing to accommodate further amendments, but was told to sign a document “formally committing to not promote or advocate the legitimacy of the Republic of China or the independence of Taiwan from China”.

CWBF said it had no stance on the matter, but that signing such a document would itself be a political act.

“Our removal… seems to be an example of politics getting in the way of good conservation,” CWBF said in a statement.

China’s authoritarian leaders view Taiwan as their territory and Beijing has ramped up pressure since voters brought President Tsai Ing-wen to power in 2016.

It has poached seven of its diplomatic allies and kept it locked out of major international bodies such as the World Health Organization.

Major hotel chains and airlines have also been punished by Beijing in recent years for listing Taiwan as separate from the mainland on their websites.

BirdLife did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Britain’s Telegraph newspaper quoted a BirdLife representative as saying it would be “inappropriate for us to comment publically on matters relating to, and interactions with, partner organisations”.

Richard Foster, a British freelance bird guide working in Taiwan, said he feared other international charity networks may come under similar pressure to eject their Taiwan partners.

“It is very sad that practical, out of the limelight, cross-strait relationships — focused purely on conservation — will be damaged by this geopolitical bullying,” he told AFP.