HANOI – The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on September 22 decided to use VND14.62 trillion (US$640 million) from the Government’s regular expenditure savings for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the committee’s meeting, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that some VND14.62 trillion from regular expenditures has been saved this year. This includes savings worth VND3 trillion from Covid-19 relief aid packages.
According to Phoc, up to VND22.27 trillion from the State budget was used for anti-pandemic efforts from January to August 2021. Meanwhile, the national Covid-19 vaccine fund has raised nearly VND9 trillion.
The minister said the country would need VND36-40 trillion to buy vaccines and fund anti-virus activities in the coming time.
Therefore, the Government had proposed the NA Standing Committee use savings from regular expenditures to combat the pandemic.
Nguyen Phu Cuong, chairman of the NA’s Finance and Budget Committee, said the committee agreed that some VND3 trillion of savings from Covid relief aid would be used for the Covid fight.
The committee also suggested the Government provide more support for frontline forces in anti-pandemic activities, including health workers.
Wrapping up the meeting, the NA Standing Committee issued a resolution deciding to use VND14.62 trillion from regular expenditure savings for the Covid fight.
By Van Ly
