The rate was revealed by Nguyen Cong Khan, Director of Science, Technology and Training Department under the Ministry of Health, at an international public health conference in Danang City on November 13.

In previous years, infectious diseases were the major problem, but non-communicable conditions have been increasing in modern society," Khan told the attendees, warning that infectious diseases continue to be a threat.

The three-day event, organised by the Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (Tephinet), drew 350 scientists and others working in the public health sector from 16 countries and territories in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region besides Vietnam.

Vietnam has emerged as a hot spot for infectious emergences and trans-boundary diseases that can have a regional and global impact given rapid globalisation, he said.

The country's coastal and island areas are also vulnerable to transitional epidemics due to climate change and the quick spread of Avian influenza (H5N1), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, he added.

The country's public sector still "plays a key role" in health care, providing 80% of services, according to Khan. He said the government has been working to promote health insurance so that the poor can access treatment at hospitals.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said he hopes the conference will "boost further co-operative response to public health events as well as disease prevention and control among Tephinet members in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region."

Tephinet director Dionisio Herrera Guibert said that the event is an opportunity to share not only experiences and lessons learned by the teaching staff and fellows, but also the impact of public health in their particular countries.