Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has ordered a list of health and education centres that need to be moved out of inner Hanoi.

The order, given as a prelude to implementing the moves, was made at a meeting with the Construction Ministry and Hanoi municipal officials on Aug.11.

Their options are for the health centres and tertiary institutions to be shifted; upgraded or be used for other purposes.

The deputy prime minister said detailed policies for the health centres and tertiary institutions must be thoroughly assessed, especially those dealing with land, finance and investment procedures.

Hanoi has the most central hospitals in northern Vietnam and many are so overloaded they have to work at 200 percent of their capacity.

Four inner-city districts of Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung and Ba Dinh host 16 medical clinics, some of which are located in high-density of residents and carry a high risk of infection.

Others are too small or located in places where urban development is limited.

The number of tertiary institutions in Hanoi city accounts for one-third of the country's total and 40 percent of the students.

The four districts alone have 26 universities and colleges.

The rate of space for each student at many universities together with the land available for each university is well below the national standard.

Source: VNA/Vietnam+