PREPARE FOR THE 4TH AHLA INTERNATIONAL HEALTH LITERACY CONFERENCE 2016: HEALTH LITERACY AND QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES

        The Asian Health Literacy Association (AHLA) has been established in Geneva Switzerland since 2004 and has been supported by more than 40 academic professional institutions in more than 30 countries around the world, especially those in Europe and Asia. Which are very important to promote health literacy and its impacts on healthcare systems throughout Asia. AHLA is a multinational nongovernmental organization that is committed to promote health literacy and to facilitate more effective health services across Asia from research, education, and policy perspective. The association seeks to encourage dialog among researchers, officials, healthcare organizations as well as experts in health and education, corporations and media that can develop better interventions in health education and services.
       Health is not an option. It's about access, equity, and paying more attention where it's needed. EVERYONE deserves the equal opportunities to achieve the highest level of health.
          Vietnam is a fast developing country in Asia, the sustainability in development and health is critical. Health literacy is an effective way to improve healthcare quality and reduce health disparities between communities, groups, and societies. Strong partnerships between national health literacy programs allow all stakeholders to benefit from the best ideas in health from around the world. AHLA supports these initiatives and promotes health literacy in regional and global levels.
          In the general assembly meeting of the AHLA in 2015, the AHLA decided to organize the 4th AHLA annually conference in Vietnam in Nov 7th- 9th, 2016. We have some important Vietnam partners including Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi School of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Viet Duc University Hospital, and Thu Duc Hospital. These Vietnam institutes have collaborated with AHLA in some scientific researches and workshops as well as attending our three international conference on health literacy over the past 3 years.
 
The 4th AHLA conference preparatory meeting, Haiphong, Feb. 23~24, 2016
         On 23rd February 2016, Prof. Chang visited Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, received by Rector Prof. Pham Van Thuc, Vice Rector Prof. Nguyen Van Hung, and Prof. Pham Minh Khue, together worked carefully on development of 4th AHLA scientific program, financial issue, registration fee, program promotion, and website development. The detailed program is expected to be released in March 15th.
 

 The tentative schedule will follow;

• Announcement of conference on March 15th, 2016

• Invitation letter issued by March 15th, 2016

• Abstract submissions opens on March 15th, 2016

• Registration opens on May 1st, 2016

• Abstract submission dues by July 31st, 2016

• Announcement of abstract acceptance on Aug 31th 2016

        Three days conference will be held in HPUMP campus with wide range of scientific programs which cover all health literacy issues in region and the world as follows.
 

Main themes of the 4th AHLA Conference

• Health literacy and safety medication (prescription, and vaccine)

• Health literacy and effectiveness of medical services

• Health finance, universal health coverage and health literacy

• Health literacy and health policy

• Health literacy and community health services (primary health and family medicine)

• Health literacy in the aging populations

• Psychological health and health literacy

• Non-communicable diseases and health literacy

• Sexual and reproductive health literacy.

• Health literacy emerging infectious diseases

• Health literacy, health promotion, and social determinants for health

• Patients’ satisfaction, quality of life and health literate services

• Health literate organization

• Health literacy and nutrition

• Health literacy and marine lives

• “One Health Literacy”

Visit to the Health Ministry, Vietnam, Feb 25th, 2016
 

          On 25th February 2016, AHLA secretariats represented by Prof. Peter Chang, and AHLA members from HPUMP led by Prof. Pham Van Thuc, Prof. Nguyen Van Hung, Prof. Pham Minh Khue, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Prof. Vo Van Thang), and Thu Duc Hospital (Dr. Tran Quoc Cuong) visited Ministry of Health of Vietnam, received by Vice-minister Prof. Le Quang Cuong and representatives of International Relation Department, Division of Science, Technology and Training, Division of Healthcare Management, Division of Preventive Medicine, to call for support and seek advices in the coming 4th AHLA conference, the establishment of the AHLA office in Vietnam, and other education collaborations.
 
The AHLA consultative meeting, Feb 25th, 2016
         A consultative meeting was held at Larosa hotel in Hanoi with the attendance of 25 experts and professors from Hanoi Medical University (Vice-president, Prof. Luu Ngoc Hoat), Hanoi School of Public Health (Dean Prof. Bui Thi Thu Ha, and Vice-dean Prof. Hoang Van Minh), Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Rector Prof. Pham Van Thuc, Vice-rector Prof. Nguyen Van Hung, and Prof. Pham Minh Khue), Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vice-rector Prof. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, Prof. Vo Van Thang), HCM city University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vice-president Prof. Do Van Dung), Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital (Dr. Nguyen Duc Chinh, Ms. Phan Thi Dung), Thu Duc Hospital (Dr. Tran Quoc Cuong), MCNV- Vietnam (Mr. Pham Dung), WHO (Ms. Nga), UNFPA Vietnam (Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huyen), and One Health network VOHUN (Dr. Pham Duc Phuc).
          The preparation of the pre-conference in HCM city is presented by Vice-rector Prof. Vo Van Thang, which will be held at Nov 6th, in the Thu Duc Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Several constructive suggestions from participants were provided to reflect key health literacy issues faced by Vietnam, Asia, and the world. The opportunities for sponsoring the 4th AHLA conference in Vietnam were also mentioned in the meeting and got several positive feedbacks.
         The meeting was successful, reiterated the importance of health literacy in healthcare, education, research, policy and finance. Participants suggested organizing a technical workshop in Vietnam, and other countries to have better understanding about health literacy, its determinants and consequences, as well as validity and reliability of the tools in different settings.