Ensuring resources to implement the National Target Program on drug prevention and control

On the morning of November 3, at the National Assembly House, under the chairmanship of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the investment policy for the National Target Program on Drug Prevention and Control to 2030 (the Program).

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the session. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang presented a summary of the report. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Clarifying the management mechanism and organization of the Program implementation

Presenting the Government's Report, Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang stated that the Program aims to continue and promote the achievements and results of the Drug Prevention and Control Program for the period 2021 - 2025 in terms of leadership and direction; prevention and communication; combating drug-related crimes; drug addiction treatment, management of addicts, illegal drug users and post-treatment management. In addition, focusing on resolving and overcoming existing shortcomings, limitations and urgent issues in drug prevention and control, requiring national public investment in the fields of reducing supply, reducing demand and reducing the harmful effects of drugs.

The program is implemented nationwide with beneficiaries including drug addicts, illegal drug users, drug rehabilitation, people participating in drug addiction treatment, people after drug rehabilitation and drug-related law violators who are eligible for legal aid; relevant organizations and individuals of agencies: specialized in preventing and combating drug-related crimes; drug rehabilitation; drug addiction treatment and consulting, state management on drug prevention and combat; the Vietnamese community, relevant agencies, units, enterprises, organizations and individuals.

View of the meeting. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh presented a summary of the inspection report. Doan Tan/VNA

According to the Inspection Report presented by Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Social Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh, the Committee basically agreed with the necessity of submitting to the National Assembly for consideration and promulgation a Resolution of the National Assembly on approving the investment policy for the National Target Program on drug prevention and control until 2030.

However, the review agency recommends that the Government continue to review and evaluate the Program's suitability with the Drug Rehabilitation Network Plan to 2020, with a vision to 2030, and the planning system in accordance with the provisions of the law on planning. At the same time, analyze specific objectives and propose appropriate implementation solutions to ensure feasibility and effectiveness; coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to continue reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, and clarifying the contents and activities of the target Programs to propose a policy integration mechanism, integrate resources for contents and activities, and ensure savings and efficiency.

In addition, clarifying solutions to ensure resources to meet the goals and targets set by the Program, capital structure of component projects, specific mechanisms for allocating appropriate capital for localities with difficulties, those that have not yet balanced their budgets and have complex drug problems; promulgating management mechanisms, organizing the implementation of the Program and solutions to implement the Program...

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh speaks. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Streamline your organization, increase decentralization

Faced with the developments of drug crimes and the unpredictable consequences and dangers of drugs related to health, race, and national security, the members of the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed on the necessity of the Program, and basically agreed with the draft Resolution submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 8th Session.

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that this is an extremely important program for the country and the people. The Party and State pay great attention to national target programs and the National Target Program on drug prevention and control until the end of 2030 is the focus and key point in drug prevention and control work.

“In the past, there was a National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control; a Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control; a Steering Committee for Prostitution Prevention and Control, and they have implemented it very resolutely, but why is the amount of drugs increasing, the number of drug buyers, sellers, users and HIV-infected people increasing?”, the National Assembly Chairman wondered.

In practice, many times at the National Assembly forum, National Assembly deputies expressed their interest in drug prevention and control. Although a lot of budget has been invested in drug prevention and control to achieve effectiveness, in recent times, drugs have been a real danger, causing harm to many economic and social fields and human health. Given this reality, the National Assembly Chairman affirmed that prevention is the main task, and the Program launched this time aims to meet the expectations of voters and people, and the trust of families.

The National Assembly Chairman noted that considering the Program's targets, if they are set, they must be achieved, whether some targets are too high or not, such as striving to detect and destroy 100% of complex drug points, hotspots, risk points, and drug retailers. At the same time, it is recommended to clarify whether the capital allocation is sufficient for drug prevention and control work or not, and to balance capital sources to ensure that the Program is implemented effectively, contributing to building and protecting the Fatherland. The Ministry of Planning and Investment should consider the possibility of balancing investment capital because this is an extremely important program. In addition, the report proposing the investment policy mentions the need to issue a special mechanism; so what are the specific implementation contents of the special mechanism?

Chairman of the National Assembly's Defense and Security Committee Le Tan Toi speaks. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

The National Assembly Chairman suggested reviewing whether this Program overlaps in scope, objects, and content with the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, and recently the National Target Program on Cultural Development. Lessons learned in implementing national target programs on coordination mechanisms, assignment of tasks, responsibilities of agencies in the program, coordination responsibilities of relevant ministries and branches, drafting agencies need to carefully study to thoroughly resolve, ensure a concise focal point, reduce the number of guiding documents, and increase decentralization and delegation of power.

Evaluating the Program dossier as qualified to be submitted to the National Assembly at the 8th Session, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the Government take into account the opinions at today's meeting to complete the Program and the draft Resolution; at the same time, note that the Government's Submission should add content on the Law on Drug Prevention and Control which was passed at the 11th Session of the 14th National Assembly. In particular, the Government needs to evaluate the implementation of the Law to date; review whether the sub-law documents such as circulars and decrees to implement the Law are complete. This is an important and core issue for building the Program, but the Government's Submission has not mentioned this content, so it needs to be added.

The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that if we want to eliminate drug abuse, families, schools, and society must work together; the root is in the family; families must manage their children; schools must manage students; and society must take measures to prevent it.

“Currently, education, propaganda and mobilization are the fundamental solutions. How can we get the entire population to participate in drug prevention and control with self-awareness, together with the authorities, to denounce and detect; at the same time, we need to promptly reward individuals,” the National Assembly Chairman stated.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong suggested that the Government review to ensure resources for implementation. Vietnam is not only a transit point but also at risk of becoming an international drug production and distribution location. To prevent this situation from happening, are these resources guaranteed? The Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and sectors, needs to explain and calculate more carefully on this issue.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh speaks. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Sharing the same view, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that the investment capital for the Program in 5 years is not much, therefore, it is necessary to focus on key tasks. In the immediate future, in 2025, it is necessary to allocate a certain amount of capital and spend time reviewing all legal documents and other related documents to both prevent and combat, reduce supply and demand and reduce the harmful effects of drugs.

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