Hanoi (VNA) - The second extraordinarymeeting of the 15th National Assembly (NA) concluded in Hanoi on January 9 afterfour days of working.

The closing session was attended by Party GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh,President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and former NAChairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, among others.

In his closing remarks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Huesaid legislators adopted the draft revised Law on Medical Examination andTreatment and three resolutions, including one on the national master plan for 2021-2030 witha vision towards 2050. They also agreed to extend a number of COVID-19 prevention and controlpolicies and allow the continued use of circulation registrations ofmedicines and medicinal ingredients, which expired on January 1, 2023, untilDecember 31, 2024. Adjustments were also made to loan plans for different provinces and cities.

Regarding the personnel work, the lawmakers decided to relieve two NA deputies from their posts,and approved the dismissal of two Deputy Prime Ministers, and the appointmentof two Deputy PMs – Tran Hong Ha and Tran Luu Quang.

The NA leader highlighted achievements the countryrecorded in various spheres last year, from economy to culture, social affairs,national defence and security, external relations, environmental protection,climate change response, administrative reform and anti-corruption.

The legislature, the Government, the Supreme People’sCourt and the Supreme People’s Procuracy focused on building and perfecting developmentinstitutions and removing difficulties to business and production, thuscreating new momentum for socio-economic development and improving theefficiency of law enforcement, he added.

In 2022, the NA convened three sessions, two regular and oneextraordinary, passed 12 bills and contributed opinions on eight others, andissued many important resolutions, including Resolution No. 43 on acceleratingsocio-economic recovery and development, along with those on consolidating theinfrastructure system and piloting typical mechanisms and policies in somecities and provinces, Hue said.

Pointing out challenges in 2023, the top legislator urgedagencies, businesses and people to follow resolutions and conclusions made bythe Party Central Committee and the NA’s Resolution No. 68/2022/QH15 on thesocio-economic development plan in 2023.

He stressed the need to have a new mindset, approachand solutions in the management work, while stepping up the perfection of institutionsto facilitate business and production.

Cultural development should go in parallel with socio-economic-politicaldevelopment, he said, calling for more attention to social welfare, povertyreduction, environmental protection, national defence and security, foreignrelations and international integration.

Earlier the same day, the NA passed the draft revised Lawon Medical Examination and Treatment, with 386 out of 473 participating deputiessaying “yes”.

The document stipulates the rights and obligations ofpatients, health workers, medical facilities, humanitarian medical examinationand treatment, technique transfer, and resources mobilisation for healthcheckups and treatment in case of natural disasters and emergencies, amongothers./.