Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a decision to spend an additional VND80 billion (USD3.8 million) on epidemic prevention in 2014, following a proposal from the Ministry of Health.

A child suffering from dangerous complications due to measles

The investment will be funded by the state budget and will used for buying healthcare equipment for Bach Mai Hospital and the National Hospital of Pediatrics, as well as the purchase of Gamaglobulin.

The Minsitry of Health will be responsible for the allocation and management of the funds so it remains in line with regulations.

In addition, the Ministry of Health will provide 12 ventilators for the National Hospital of Pediatrics, Dong Da Hospital and Thanh Nhan Hospital.

Previously, the PM instructed the Ministry of Health to supply a number of public hospitals with 22 ventilators in order to meet the increased demand for treatment caused by infectious diseases, such as influenza and measles.

The Ministry of Health reported that more than 7,000 people in Vietnam have contracted measles, of which, more than 100 have died of the disease.