Improving Access to E-Public Services for Citizens through the National Public Service Portal
In collaboration with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the Government (OOG) of Viet Nam and Hue People’s Committee cohosted a conference in Hue city this morning on the topic of improving access to e-public services for citizens through the National Public Service Portal.
More than 200 representatives from Government ministries and provinces as well ascitizens from Hue city participated in the conference, in addition to live viewers from across the country via the fan pages of the OOG; VnExpress; and UNDP. During the conference, citizens were invited to share experiences of connecting with the National Public Service Portal from Thua Thien-Hue province.. Comments from those watching the conference online were also shared during the Q&A session with citizens, chaired by HE. Mai Tien Dung, Minister, Office of Government, and Chair of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedures Reform, and Mr. Phan Ngoc Tho, Chairperson, Thua Thien- Hue People’s Committee.
“The ultimate goal of the National Public Service Portal is to Leave No One Behind; putting people and businesses at the center and integrating the public services of ministries, agencies and localities into the National Public Service Portal, thereby providing friendly online public services for the people regardless of time and administrative boundaries,” HE. Minister Mai Tien Dung said. The National Public Service Portal is also a channel through which to receive feedback and recommendations from people and businesses so they can join the Government in building institutions, thus improving administrative discipline and order.
Seven months after its launch, the National Public Service Portal has integrated 750 online public services (for both people and businesses); had 189,000 accounts registered; received more than 179,000 online documents through the National Portal; and responded to 16,600 phone inquiries. E-payment has been integrated for six ministries and 33 out of 63 provinces.
In her opening remarks, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam Caitlin Wiesen highlighted four reasons for undertaking administrative procedures online: safety, convenience, reduced carbon footprint, and less opportunity for corruption.
“E-governance and digital transformation has become even more vital and urgent in the context of COVID-19,” Ms. Wiesen said. “I would like to commend the Government of Viet Nam for its commitment at the highest level to e-governance and digital transformation. Citizens engagement is key, both for promoting e-governance and for improving its quality”.
Addressing the Conference, H.E. Ms. Robyn Mudie, Ambassador of Australia to Viet Nam, emphasized Australia’s strong partnership with Viet Nam in supporting e-government. “For the past few years, Australia has walked alongside Viet Nam in its e-governance journey: sharing lessons and experiences from both sides. I’m impressed by how much Viet Nam has achieved and honored to take another step on this path today,” she said.
During the conference, ministries and agencies introduced some new online public services such as voluntary social insurance; extension of the validity of the health insurance card for household; and issuance of driving license. These are essential public services for citizens, which have recently been integrated into the National Public Service Portal.