PEOPLE, PEACE
Italian Development Cooperation considers health a strategic priority: where the right to health is guaranteed, the dignity of People is strengthened and the foundations for an inclusive and lasting Peace are reinforced.
Today, health is recognized as a fundamental component of human development and represents one of the pillars of Italy’s development cooperation policies. In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, Italian Development Cooperation supports the strengthening of health systems, promotes equitable access to quality healthcare services, and contributes to global health security.
In accordance with these priorities, the AICS Hanoi Office operates in Vietnam through a concessional loan initiative covering three provinces in the Central Region, aimed at upgrading healthcare infrastructure and strengthening public health institutions.
Over the past decade, Vietnam has significantly increased investment in the health sector, achieving notable progress in prevention, epidemiological surveillance, and the management of public health emergencies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country has improved maternal, neonatal, and child health indicators, supported by the implementation of the National Strategy to Protect, Care for and Improve People’s Health by 2030, with a Vision to 2045 and the Vietnam Population Strategy to 2030, both aligned with the achievement of SDG 3.
Despite these advances, important challenges remain. WHO data indicate that air pollution continues to be a major cause of preventable mortality, while the impacts of climate change are contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Furthermore, although significant progress has been made towards universal health coverage, public health expenditure remains relatively limited and coordination among the various sectors involved in health policy development continues to be complex.
Health is also addressed as a cross-cutting priority within the humanitarian initiatives supported by AICS Hanoi in Myanmar and Bangladesh, where strengthening access to essential healthcare services is a key component of crisis response efforts and the protection of vulnerable populations.
Initiative
AID 9627 – Improvement of Health Services in Specific Areas of the Central Region of Vietnam and at the Hue University College of Medicine and Pharmacy