The Government Office has just issued Notice 494/TB-VPCP dated November 29, 2023 on the conclusion of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at the online conference summarizing the work of COVID-19 prevention and control of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control with localities.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Prime Minister highly appreciated and commended the leadership and direction of Party committees, authorities, and Steering Committees for COVID-19 Prevention and Control at all levels; the participation of the entire political system, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations; the trust, response, sharing and participation of all classes of people; and especially acknowledged and commended the medical forces, military, police and other frontline forces in the fight against the epidemic.

The Prime Minister highly appreciated and expressed gratitude for the sacrifices and meaningful and noble contributions of the forces and people participating in the prevention and control of the epidemic, philanthropists and businesses that have contributed and supported efforts and material assets for the prevention and control of the epidemic; shared and sent deep condolences to the families and relatives of those who died due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Government, the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee sincerely thank countries and international organizations for their companionship and support to Vietnam in the arduous fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The results of epidemic prevention and control create important conditions for comprehensive recovery and development of socio-economic fields.

To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has been completely controlled nationwide. Our country has been "behind and ahead" in the work of preventing and fighting the pandemic; becoming one of the countries that opened up domestic socio-economic activities early from October 11, 2021 and opened to the international community from March 15, 2022.

From a country that approached vaccines late and had a low vaccination rate, Vietnam has become one of five countries in the world and the only country in the group with a large population of about 100 million people to achieve the highest vaccination coverage rate. The results of epidemic prevention and control have created important conditions for comprehensive recovery and development of socio-economic sectors.

The economy continues to grow, the macro economy is stable, inflation is controlled, major balances are ensured. Social security is guaranteed; people's material and spiritual lives are improved. Foreign affairs and international integration are strengthened and expanded. The work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity is promoted. The practice of preventing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strongly demonstrate the spirit and mettle of Vietnam, the more difficult it is, the more resilient, determined and victorious it is.

However, in practice, the implementation of epidemic prevention and control work still has some shortcomings and limitations: Direction and operation are sometimes confused and passive, especially in the early stages; legal regulations do not cover all emergency and dangerous situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic; the grassroots health system and preventive medicine have not fully met the requirements when unusual and urgent situations occur; administrative management is still inadequate, some places have not properly implemented regulations and instructions; information, communication, technology application, and social security assurance at some times have not been well implemented; hostile forces take advantage of difficult times to fiercely sabotage...

Lessons learned

Practices in preventing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic have left behind extremely valuable lessons:

(1) The work of epidemic prevention and control is always under the leadership of the Party, with the participation of the entire political system, each citizen and enterprise; promoting solidarity of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire nation; enhancing the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation, but self-reliance, self-reliance and self-reliance are still the decisive factors;

(2) Must be extremely calm, persistent, courageous, and alert in the face of complex developments and difficult times; be clear-headed and flexible in coming up with appropriate, realistic, feasible, and effective solutions;

(3) The capacity of the health system, including preventive medicine and primary health care, is always higher than normal when there is no epidemic; disease prevention and control is implemented early, remotely, right from the grassroots level;

(4) Pay attention to social security and quickly overcome the consequences of the pandemic;

(5) Close, timely and effective coordination between forces participating in epidemic prevention and control;

(6) Reward and discipline promptly, strictly, correctly, and accurately.

Resolutely handle outstanding issues related to epidemic prevention and control work in the past time.

Regarding the direction and tasks for the coming time, ministries, branches and localities:

(1) Continue to be vigilant, take early and remote precautions, and prepare necessary conditions to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic and other possible epidemics; continue to increase investment in developing the preventive health system and grassroots health care, ensuring sufficient capacity to meet the requirements of disease prevention and control even in the event of a bad situation;

(2) Continue to improve institutions, mechanisms and policies; focus on overcoming shortcomings and obstacles in current laws and creating a synchronous, complete and appropriate legal framework system to promptly meet the requirements of disease prevention and control in all situations, including in emergencies, especially in the procurement of drugs, vaccines, medical equipment and supplies; effectively implement the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment; further improve administrative management capacity and technology to meet the requirements of disease prevention and control;

(3) Continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, overcome the consequences of the epidemic, stabilize people's lives, especially for those who suffer the consequences and impacts of the pandemic, especially orphans, so that they do not suffer mental trauma and material deprivation;

(4) Ministries, branches and localities, within their authority, shall thoroughly handle outstanding issues related to the work of epidemic prevention and control in the past; in cases beyond their authority, they shall report to competent authorities for handling; promote the implementation of Resolution No. 80/2023/QH15 dated January 9, 2023 of the National Assembly on continuing to implement a number of policies in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic and the use of drug and pharmaceutical ingredient circulation registration certificates that have expired from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024 and resolutions of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee on the work of preventing and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic that are still in effect; provide information, guidance and implementation of documents within their authority when transferring COVID-19 to a group B infectious disease;

(5) Step up the organization and implementation and soon complete the honoring and rewarding of collectives and individuals with achievements in the work of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic;

(6) Strictly and effectively implement Directive No. 25-CT/TW dated October 25, 2023 of the Secretariat on continuing to consolidate, improve and enhance the quality of grassroots health care activities in the new situation and Resolution No. 99/2023/QH15 dated June 4, 2023 of the National Assembly on thematic supervision of the mobilization, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control, the implementation of policies and laws on grassroots health care and preventive medicine;

(7) Improve the capacity of medical staff, ensure policies for epidemic prevention and control forces, especially for frontline forces;

(8) Pay attention to investing in scientific research, production of vaccines, biological products, and treatment drugs to master the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring to meet domestic demand, especially when the population has reached more than 100 million people and is aging rapidly.

Early completion of the system of documents and data on the process of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic

The Ministry of Health shall preside over and, together with ministries, branches and localities, promptly complete the system of documents and data on the process of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, especially on lessons learned for research, reference, application and promotion in the practice of state management and prevention and control of epidemics that may occur in the coming time.

Continue to promote biomedical research, develop domestic pharmaceutical, vaccine, biological and medical equipment industries to increase proactiveness in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

Synthesize and resolve recommendations on disease prevention and control according to authority, propose competent authorities to handle according to regulations.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinates with the Fatherland Front at all levels to review, compile statistics, develop and implement policies to care for the lives of orphans affected by the consequences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam Television shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Health and the Government Office to produce a documentary on COVID-19 prevention and control and long-term archived lessons learned for reference by leaders when similar incidents occur (to be completed in the second quarter of 2024).

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and Steering Committees at all levels have completed the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people and concluded their tasks according to decisions issued by competent authorities during the epidemic prevention process.