RURAL HEALTH-SERVICES IN VIETNAM - THEIR CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE TO OTHER ASIAN TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES

While the current transitional period has undermined the financial bas e of PHC in Vietnam and made the delivery and qualify of services vuln erable, particularly at the commune level, the government of Vietnam i s responding in various ways to try and safeguard public health provis ion. This article looks at some of the measures taken by the governmen t to preserve the delivery of PHC, and indicates some areas which are currently under review It argues that the government of Vietnam's poli tical commitment to public health, and its propensity to adapt to chan ge, may sustain the provision of primary health care during the curren t period of rapid economic reform.