Minister Dao Hong Lan inspects medical facilities in Nghe An.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan, along with her delegation and leaders of Nghe An province, visited and spoke with people receiving medical examinations at the Nam Thai Commune Health Center in Nam Dan district. Photo: Thanh Duy

Minister Dao Hong Lan and her delegation visited and worked at the Nam Thai Commune Health Station in Nam Dan District. This is a purely agricultural commune located in the northwest of the district. With an area of ​​12 square kilometers, the commune has 4 hamlets with 4,447 inhabitants.

The Minister of Health and his delegation surveyed and assessed the operational situation at the Nam Thai Commune Health Station, Nam Dan District. Photo: Thanh Duy

Over the past period, the activities at the commune health station have made significant progress and are becoming increasingly organized. Medical examination, treatment, and primary healthcare for the people have seen many positive changes; over 99% of the population has electronic health records; and emergency care is provided promptly. The medical staff are enthusiastic and proactive in their work, quickly learning and effectively applying medical examination and treatment software.

After inspecting the facilities, equipment, and medical examination and treatment activities, the Minister of Health highly appreciated the work of the Nam Thai Commune Health Station; at the same time, he acknowledged the difficulties and suggestions of the unit.

Minister Dao Hong Lan presents a commemorative gift to the Nam Thai Commune Health Station, Nam Dan District. Photo: Thanh Duy

Looking ahead, Minister Dao Hong Lan requested that the Nam Thai Commune Health Station continue to proactively and effectively carry out its professional tasks, providing good primary healthcare for the people; especially regarding medical examination and treatment; preventive medicine; and management of non-communicable diseases at the grassroots level; while also implementing the health criteria in the National Target Program for building new rural areas in the 2021-2025 period.

The Minister of Health presents gifts, visits, and encourages dialysis patients at the Nam Dan District Health Center. Photo: Thanh Duy

Next, Minister Dao Hong Lan and the delegation visited and worked at the Nam Dan District Medical Center. Thanks to the implementation of the Satellite Hospital Project and the Project to Enhance the Capacity of the Grassroots Healthcare System, the quality of medical examination and treatment at the center has significantly improved, especially with the deployment of many new techniques such as: hemodialysis, joint injection techniques, joint fluid aspiration, skin grafting surgery; and the opening of additional multi-specialty and endocrinology clinics…

Preventive health activities and national health target programs were prioritized and successfully completed. COVID-19 vaccination and expanded immunization programs were implemented effectively and safely…

Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Thai Thanh Quy, presents gifts, visits, and encourages dialysis patients at the Nam Dan District Medical Center. Photo: Thanh Duy

During a meeting with the leaders of Nam Dan district and the District Health Center, Minister Dao Hong Lan listened to recommendations regarding policy documents; preventive health care, examination and treatment based on the practical experience of a district-level health facility; and especially the difficulties in recruiting personnel to work at the district and commune levels.

Accordingly, in just two years (2021, 2022), five doctors at the District Health Center resigned, and the unit was unable to recruit new doctors, leading to a current shortage of personnel in various fields. Some positions had to be filled by retired staff under contract. The low basic income also means that doctors and medical staff at the district and commune levels are not yet confident in their work.

Minister Dao Hong Lan delivers concluding remarks at the working session with the Nam Dan District Health Center, Nghe An province. Photo: Thanh Duy

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Dao Hong Lan acknowledged the new developments of the District Health Center, as well as the unit's recommendations. The Minister also requested that the Nam Dan District Health Center continue to be maintained as a satellite of Bach Mai Hospital, contributing to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment for local people. On the other hand, solutions are needed to ensure sufficient doctors are assigned to commune-level health stations, as currently only 16 out of 19 health stations in Nam Dan have doctors.

Earlier that day, a delegation from the Ministry of Health visited and worked at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. This is the largest hospital in Nghe An province, recognized and assigned by the Ministry of Health as the highest-level hospital in terms of technical expertise for examination and treatment in the North Central region, covering the specialties of Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics since March 2021.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Huong - Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of Nghe An Friendship General Hospital(second from the right)Reporting to the Minister of Health and provincial leaders on medical examination and treatment work at the hospital. Photo: Thanh Duy

Over the years, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital has leveraged its strengths and overcome difficulties to focus on building and developing the hospital towards specialized, multi-disciplinary, and multi-specialty healthcare, successfully fulfilling its assigned tasks.

Minister Dao Hong Lan converses with the medical staff working at the Intensive Care Unit, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Duy.

The hospital aims to develop into a high-tech medical center in the North Central region, meeting the healthcare needs of the people in the province and the region, and striving to achieve special status by 2025.

Before working with the hospital's leadership, Minister Dao Hong Lan personally visited to learn about the medical examination and treatment work; she also visited, gave gifts, and encouraged the families of patients being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

After conducting on-site surveys and listening to reports, the head of the Ministry of Health acknowledged the role of Nghe An Friendship General Hospital in providing medical examination and treatment not only for the province but also for the region and neighboring Laos.

Minister Dao Hong Lan and Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy present gifts to family members of patients receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Duy

In agreement with the hospital's stated direction, which includes becoming a first-class autonomous hospital; developing and improving the quality of human resources; and investing in high-tech equipment to better serve medical examination and treatment, Minister Dao Hong Lan said: The Ministry of Health fully agrees with and supports the implementation of this development strategy in the coming time.

Acknowledging the hospital's recommendations aimed at resolving the difficulties and obstacles they are facing, Comrade Dao Hong Lan specifically discussed several issues and assigned relevant units under the Ministry to research and provide answers in the near future.

Minister Dao Hong Lan and the delegation presented a commemorative gift to Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Duy

Speaking before the leadership, staff, and doctors of Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, Minister Dao Hong Lan shared her understanding of the hardships and pressures faced in the past period, especially those related to the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic. She expressed her hope that the health sector would continue to unite and overcome difficulties together, ensuring both the protection and care of the people's health and the valuable care of the medical staff who serve the national social welfare mission.

At the locations visited and working in the area, Minister Dao Hong Lan and the delegation presented commemorative gifts to the units.