On Friday morning, 20 medical workers were honoured with ‘Shining White Coats 2016’ awards in recognition of their outstanding efforts for Da Nang’s health care sector, as well as their great devotion to patients, over the past year. 

Secretary Anh (2nd right) and the recipients of Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister

This year’s awards ceremony took place in the city’s Administrative Centre in recognition of the 62^nd anniversary of Vietnamese Physicians’ Day (27 February).   Also present at the event were municipal People’s Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh and some representatives from the city’s authorities.

First launched in 2012, the annual awards aim to honour outstanding doctors, nurses and medical staff from local public hospitals.  The honourees receive prize money representing 5 times the current minimum wage as stipulated by government regulation. 

During 2016, the city’s health care sector recorded numerous remarkable results in effectively preventing outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever, and the Ebola and Zika virus infections.  No deaths from these infectious diseases were reported in the city last year.

Secretary Anh (7th, left), Director Yen (8th, left), and the honourees

Currently, Da Nang is one of the leading Vietnamese localities in terms of high health insurance coverage rate, and high doctor-to-population and bed-to-patient ratios.  Over recent years, the quality of heath care services at the local medical establishments has been considerably improved.

Addressing the ceremony, Director of the municipal Department of Health Ngo Thi Kim Yen remarked that, in the coming time, the focus will be on preventing and controlling epidemics, ensuring local food safety and hygiene, improving health care services, enhancing administrative reforms, and developing the health network at grassroots level.

Also at the event, 3 individuals were given Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister in recognition of their significant contributions to the local healthcare sector.  The recipients were Director Yen, Head of the city’s Department of Population and Family Planning Nguyen Thi Xuan, and Manager of Personnel Management Division of the city’s Department of Health Tran Thanh Thuy. 

In addition, the municipal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Centre received a third-class Labour Medal from the State President for its remarkable achievements during the 2011- 2015 period.