English - CEDAW Southeast Asia

CEDAW and the Law:
health-care networks. 572 In relation to task (b), it identifies, as priority subjects, mothers,
children and elderly people. As to (c), it tasks the: (i) formulating of policies on preferential
treatment of medical officials and workers, especially those at the grass-roots level and those
working in remote and mountainous regions; and (ii) putting in place plans on personnel
transfer, regime of obligatory service in remote and mountainous regions for new graduates of
medicine.
Sixth, the Strategy for Youth Development by 2010 – pursuant to the Decision No.
70/2003/QD-TTG of April 29, 2003 on the Strategy for Youth Development by 2010 - has
Target 5: “Improve health, spiritual life, build the cultural life, suppress social evils and law
breaching among youngsters.”
Seventh, the SEDP list as among its main goals the reduction of gender inequality and
it cites as one of its specific objectives and expected results ensuring gender equality in health
care. In relation to health in general, the SEDP aims to: (a) develop the people’s health-care
system; (b) invest in grass-roots medical networks in terms of facilities, equipment and staff;
(c) foster the pharmaceutical industry; (d) intensify scientific and technological advances in
medicine; (d) focus on preventive, grass-roots and hi-tech medical services and specialized
wards; and (e) intensify socialization of medical services. 573 There are several references to
maternal health, HIV/AIDS, contraception and health care for disadvantaged groups. See
discussion in Indicators 86, 87, 88, 91 and 92.
Based on these laws, policies, strategies and plans, the principle of equal access to
health care is guaranteed. However, in terms of the actual operationalization of the guarantee,
there are several areas that need improvement. First, in the area of infrastructure development
and human resources, the following improvements are required:
258
building or strengthening health-care centres that specifically focus on health-care
concerns of women, including diseases and infections that disproportionately affect
them;
putting in place measures relating to GBV. See Part V.1.3.6. It should be reiterated
that it is necessary to ensure conditions of privacy and confidentiality, including
drafting of work protocols on them. In many cases, women are hesitant to come
forward to discuss particular health issues due to fear of publicity. Hence, putting in
place strict protocols to ensure privacy and confidentiality will assist in accessing
health-care services;
ensuring participation of women in leadership positions in the health-care sector. This
should be link to the discussion on women’s leadership and participation under Part
V.5.3. Suggestions in that section should be incorporated;
572
This includes these objectives: (a) by 2010, 100 percent of communes and wards have solidly built health-care stations
suitable to their economic, geographical and eco-environmental conditions and local people’s medical examination
and treatment demand; and (b) 80 percent of communes have medical doctors (specifically in 100 percent of
delta, and 60 percent of mountainous, communes).
573
Results expected are: (a) average life expectancy of 72 years; (b) reduction of mortality of children aged under 1
years and under 5 years to 16 percent and 25 percent respectively; (c) 7.0 doctors and 11.2 pharmacists with university
degrees per 10,000 population; (d) 80 percent of medical centres served by doctors; and (e) 100 percent of
communal medical centers have sufficient conditions for normal operation.
Review of key legal documents and compliance with CEDAW