$221 mln reserve budget to bolster Covid fight

The money, derived from the 2021 reserve national budget, would be used to purchase equipment, chemicals and medications, among others, to serve the Covid-19 fight, according to a decision by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai signed Sunday.

The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance would manage the money, the decision said.

Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the health ministry to boost treatment capabilities across the country and support localities with high numbers of Covid-19 cases.

Back in June, the government had allocated VND7.65 trillion to the health ministry to purchase around 61 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

In a National Assembly session late last month, the Economic Committee said the national budget had spent around VND168.8 trillion on the Covid-19 fight and supporting citizens and businesses in 2020 and the first half of 2021.

Over three months into its fourth wave, the most challenging Vietnam has encountered, the country has recorded 153,621 cases in 62 of its 63 cities and provinces.

Ho Chi Minh City accounts for most infections, 96,292.