Inequalities in health and health care is a major challenge to most countries worldwide. The study showed that disadvantaged groups (the poor, ethnic minorities in remote areas) prone to get sick and die with higher rates, they have greater health care needs but they are using health services at a lower rate than other groups in society.

Vietnam is a country of many ethnic groups, with 54 ethnics including 53 ethnic minorities accounted for 14.27% of the population in the country. In order to improve health status, enhancing the access of ethnic minorities to essential health care services, the Party & the Government of Vietnam has issued many policies to support health care for fellow citizens in ethnic minorities and the overall intervention was conducted.

To provide information about the network service provider and the level of access of ethnic minorities with the primary health care services, in recent years the Health Strategy and Policy Institute, with the support of Pathfinder International and Atlantic Philanthropy has conducted research in a number of localities in the country.

On 22/10/2014, at Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, the Heath Strategy and Institute held a “Seminar to share the results of a rapid assessment on the status of network service providers and the level of access to primary health care of ethnic in some localities”.

The Seminar had the participation of representatives of the Departments of the Ministry of Health; The Department of Social Affairs, The Central Department of Propaganda; The Department of Social Affairs, the Office of the National Assembly; Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union; Department of Local 1, Committee for Ethnic Minorities; General Department of Population; The United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Pathfinder International, Atlantic Philanthropy Organization in Vietnam and other non-governmental organizations. Prof Nguyen Cong Khan - Department of Science, Technology and Training, Dr. Le Ngoc Bao - Head of Representative Office in Vietnam Pathfinder International, PhD. Le Nhan Phuong - Representative of Atlantic Philanthropies, MA. Dr. Ma The Luan - Deputy Director of Local 1 - Committee Ethnicity chaired the workshop.

At the seminar, participants have heard MA. Vu Thi Minh Hanh Deputy Director of the Health Strategy and Policy Institute presented the assessment of the network of primary health care provider in areas of residence, access to primary health care services, health status , identify barriers and unmet needs in access to primary health care services and propose some solutions support to enhance the level of access to primary health care services, improve the health status of the people of minorities.

At the seminar, delegates focused on the discussion on the difficulties primarily on the status of supply, capable of primary health care services as well as the need to focus on solving the problems of manpower training, basic facilities, organizational models and strategies for the network of primary health care and communication strategy to fit for people of ethnic minorities in the future.

Other news:

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• Final review meeting of the study “Assessment of actual benefits and out-of-pocket payments of the insured at public health facilities” (13/10/2014)
• The current situation of violence towards public health workers at the workplace (07/10/2014)
• Implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation of the revised capitation pilot project (06/10/2014)
• Review Meeting of the first 6 month implementation of health insurance payment mechanism by capitation pilot, La Thanh hotel, 06-07/08/2014 (12/08/2014)
• Health Technology Assessment Methods Training workshop (28/07/2014)