The Vietnamese Government has spent more than VND8 trillion on COVID-19 prevention and control, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance has submitted to competent authorities to allocate resources
to import vaccines as proposed by the Ministry of Health. Photo: Internet.

More than VND6.1 trillion was spent from the central budget, with VND5.35 trillion allocated to ministries to purchase medical supplies and equipment and vaccines, and VND762 billion to help localities.

In addition, VND13.1 trillion has been spent on supporting more than 13 million people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, who mainly are the poor, social policy beneficiaries, those who rendered service to the nation, and workers who lost their jobs.

The Ministry of Finance said VND4,056 billion was allocated from the central budget to support ministries and localities for COVID-19 prevention and control in 2020.

The total fund for this work in 2021 has hit VND823 billion, of which the amount allocated to ministries is VND505,853 billion.

The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health is allocated VND2,165 billion, VND0.788 billion, VND502.9 billion, respectively.

Notably, the Government has submitted a plan to the National Assembly Standing Committee with the estimated fund of about VND25.2 trillion to buy vaccines and vaccinate about 75 million people, of which the central budget will ensure about VND16 trillion and about VND9.2 trillion will come from local budgets, businesses and organisations.

On May 18, 2021, the National Assembly Standing Committee issued Resolution No.1271/NQ-UBTVQH14 that stipulates using VND12,100 billion from savings sources in 2020 to purchase vaccines for Covid-19.

Thus, the Ministry of Finance has submitted to competent authorities to ensure resources to import vaccines as proposed by the Ministry of Health.

Recently, the Ministry of Finance instructed the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities on funding sources and procurement mechanisms for medical equipment, chemicals, supplies and biological products for Covid-19 prevention and control. The Ministry asked localities to comply with regulations on the management of funds and procurement.