Accurate and timely identification of COVID-19 variants in circulation is critical to an effective COVID-19 response. Following the delivery of parts and equipment to refurbish the country’s only COVID-19 specific genomic sequencing machine, LHSS supported training for laboratory specialists on genomic sequencing of COVID-19 virus variants. 

This document provides a roadmap for Vietnam’s National Tuberculosis (TB) Program to transition procurement and payment for TB drugs to the country’s social health insurance scheme.

This report summarizes the results of a review of international experience and best practices related to pro-health excise taxes.

LHSS in this report recommends that the government raise pro-health excise taxes at greater rates than currently proposed by the Ministry of Finance in order to increase the revenue raised.

For the first time, Vietnam has procured TB medicines using its national social health insurance scheme. 

Late last year, health sector practitioners from eight countries met to tackle the issue head-on as participants in the Joint Learning Network Health Budget Execution Learning Exchange. They made meaningful progress.

This video captures a November 6, 2020 ceremony in Hanoi which marked the formal start of the LHSS Project’s four-year effort to help the Government of Vietnam implement its social health insurance program. The program covers treatment services for people with HIV, among other essential health services.

Working closely with the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) agency, LHSS will help improve the agency’s capacity to manage the insurance program funds effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with accountability. LHSS will also support Vietnam’s transition to full financial ownership of its HIV and TB responses.

HMED software will improve Vietnam’s capacity to effectively forecast ARV demand, and manage the drugs when they are in the country. Also, engaging drug manufacturers and distributors is crucial to overcoming supply side obstacles.

In Tajikistan, LHSS addresses immediate epidemic prevention, detection, and response needs while building on the existing in-country national health system and health system resilience strategies. 

This Practice Spotlight brief describes the Ethiopia Ministry of Health’s Information Revolution, an initiative that aimed to improve health services by facilitating better availability, quality, and use of health data across the health system.

LHSS implemented a PMI-funded activity in four countries to do a landscape analysis of private sector contributions to malaria programming and identify potential strategic opportunities to strengthen private sector engagement. 

Poor budget execution results in inefficiencies that undermine the ability of health agencies to improve access to needed health services and improve population health. Yet billions of dollars in unexecuted health budgets are returned to treasuries every year. 

Effort to strengthen Vietnam’s social health insurance program will benefit people with HIV.