Children's rights and the MDGs: the right to health within Vietnam's transition towards a market economy.
In Vietnam, the transition towards a market-based economy has contributed greatly to poverty reduction, but there are also signs of rising inequalities. This article discusses the consequences of internal and external economic liberalization on children's right to health. It describes how the right of the child to adequate health care is fulfilled in Vietnam and analyzes challenges health policy-makers face during the transition. Policy options are recommended, including increased public expenditures on health, introduction of health insurance, development of culturally sensitive health care programs for ethnic minority children and women, and negotiation of conditions for World Trade Organization (WTO) accession that do not jeopardize Vietnam's successes in implementation of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Volkmann
Christian Salazar
CS
UNICEF, Hanoi, Vietnam. csalazar@unicef.org
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004467:Economics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D014480:United Nations; D014744:Vietnam