Vietnam has been lauded for enabling 87.7 percent of its population to be covered by health insurance. Nonetheless, work still needs to be done in ensuring that the health and well-being of all individuals are continuously cared for. The battle against hepatitis and HIV, as well as battling the prevalence of cervical cancer are key conditions that remains to be addressed for Viet Nam.

On the Hepatitis front, about 8.8 million persons still live with hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infection, with 40,000 deaths reported annually; 80%–90% of those infected remain undiagnosed; and 95% of treatment-eligible people remain untreated due to a lack of awareness. For HIV, with about 12,000 new cases diagnosed and 2,000 deaths each year, is still a burden on Viet Nam. Finally, as the eight-leading type of cancer overall among Vietnamese women with an incidence rate of 5.7, the total loss of earnings due to the mortality from cervical cancer amounts to approximately US 900 million dollars per annum. These diseases not only result in a high mortality rate for individuals, but also poses a significant economic loss for Viet Nam if left unaddressed.

As Vietnam gears towards strengthening its healthcare system under the leadership of the new health minister, enhancing diagnostics capability will be a key strategy that enables the Government of Viet Nam to achieve Resolution No. 20 – NQ/TW – improve capacity for screening, [and] early detection and control of diseases.

In this panel, the various stakeholders will discuss the following:

• In countries that have implemented a nationwide screening programme for diseases, a reduction in disease burden has been observed as a result. How can Vietnam work towards implementing a national screening programme for the various diseases such as Hepatitis, HIV and cervical cancer?
• The level of awareness about screening differs from region to region, with those in urban areas more knowledgeable than those in rural areas. How can this gap be bridged?
• How can private stakeholders work with the Ministries and agencies to increase the uptake of screening for communicable and non-communicable diseases alike?
• Diagnostics bring value at every level of the healthcare system. How does Vietnam aim to build efficient laboratory and point-of-care infrastructure so that tests for multiple diseases can be conducted; and patients can be directed to the optimal care management?
• Vietnam, as with virtually any other countries worldwide, has committed to achieving UHC by 2030. Assessing its achievements thus far, what more is left to be done to achieve this goal in the next 7 years?
• What are the Challenges of Vietnam to end epidemic of AIDS/Hepatitis by 2030? How can Vietnam increase coverage of screening and encourage patients to receive treatment for these diseases to (1) stop AIDS in 2030, and; (2) reduce 90% hepatitis rate in 2030?