A view outside the United Nations Convention Center in Geneva, Switzerland, where the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) took place, May 21, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Huong highlighted Vietnam's major healthcare achievements, including an average life expectancy over 75. It has also been reforming its health sector to meet future demand, driven by rapid socio-economic development and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said Vietnam carried out a large-scale vaccination campaign in 2021 and 2022 that ensured vaccine access nationwide.

She cited statistics that say Vietnam administered 273.7 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for every 100 people, 1.6 times the global average of 170.1 and higher than most developed countries. The rate of people fully vaccinated with primary doses is 1.4 times the world average and the rate of people receiving booster doses is double the world average.

Thanks to its efforts, since the beginning of 2022, Vietnam has shifted to a stance of sustainably managing the pandemic, which means balancing socio-economic development and public health measures to protect vulnerable groups and the healthcare system.

Highlighting the WHO’s close technical partnership with the Vietnamese government, Huong said Vietnam is proud of the health achievements it obtained with support from the WHO during the pandemic and hopes to continue the partnership.