Burning the flame of the profession

Reporter: It is known that on Vietnamese Doctors' Day, February 27 this year, the Nghe An Health sector will not organize any commemorative activities to focus on preventing and fighting Covid-19. Could you please tell us more about this policy?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: Vietnamese Doctors' Day, February 27, is an important and meaningful day for the health sector. According to annual tradition, on this day, the health sector will organize rallies, celebrations, and activities to celebrate and review the industry's traditions. However, like in 2020, February 27 this year comes in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic that has greatly affected all economic and social activities. The sector has advised the province to issue documents to limit large gatherings, including limiting meetings... Therefore, we, the health sector, think that we must set an example for all other levels and sectors.

Photo: Duc Anh

In addition to not organizing rallies and seminars at the Department of Health, the health sector has also issued a document directing units to stop all entertainment, cultural, artistic and sports activities to celebrate. The most meaningful activity on this occasion of February 27 is that the whole sector focuses all its efforts on disease prevention and control. Right from the first days of the year, the sector has organized online meetings with 33 health units to deploy disease prevention and control work and medical examination and treatment activities. The tasks have been thoroughly understood. Since then, all activities in the health sector have been strongly put into motion. Levels of disease prevention and control have been activated in all localities and units in the sector. Absolutely do not let the situation of neglecting the idea of ​​"January is the month of having fun" or having fun on the anniversary while neglecting disease prevention and medical examination and treatment.

PV: Not being able to participate in activities celebrating the 66th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day is just a small part of the many disadvantages that every medical practitioner has to go through. Can you tell us more about the silent sacrifices of doctors?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The medical profession is a special and noble profession when it comes to taking care of the health of the general public. In addition, the medical profession is also very sensitive as practitioners always have to deal with patients in a special state (illness, fatigue, physical and mental damage).

Photo: Thanh Cuong

The medical industry has many fields, of which the two main fields are prevention and treatment. For doctors working in the field of prevention, there are very special silent sacrifices. They still silently fight hundreds of diseases every day. In reality, we only "clearly see" part of their role when an epidemic breaks out, without knowing that doctors in the field of prevention have successfully surrounded and suppressed many types of epidemics and outbreaks before. Regardless of day or night, holidays, when there are suspected cases of epidemics, they are immediately present, despite the fact that they and their families have many other important things to do.

For example, doctors in Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc districts, Hoang Mai town and other localities during the recent Tet holiday threw themselves into the fight against Covid-19 when there were suspected cases... It must be said that the sacrifices of preventive doctors are very quiet, and society may not always recognize and honor them appropriately. However, with a bright heart for the profession, preventive doctors are still strong, quietly moving forward, considering the task of preventing and fighting the epidemic as a command from the heart to strive and win.

Doctors have to stand and operate all day long; the work is continuous, continuous, and they have to forget about holidays, Tet, and days off. Photo: Tu Thanh

In the field of treatment, the sacrifice of the doctor is seen more clearly. That is, to save the life of a "life-threatening" patient, the doctor and the whole team have to work hard day and night. Then the doctor has to stand and operate all day; that work is continuous, continuous, and they have to forget about holidays, Tet, and days off. However, this is only an "external" sacrifice, deep in the souls of the doctors there are other losses. As we all know, in the process of practicing medicine, there are always unexpected risks, which are medical accidents. Accidents that occur depend on many factors. It is these medical accidents due to objective or subjective causes that have, are and will always affect the psychology, haunting the doctor...

Leaders of the Provincial People's Committee and leaders of the Department of Health directly inspected the lab testing room - CDC Nghe An. Photo courtesy of Pham Hoa

Now, society has had correct and accurate recognition of the medical profession. The doctors themselves feel less disadvantaged and are always grateful for that recognition. However, the doctors still hope to receive more encouragement from the social community... The medical profession has been and is making many steps of development. However, in that bright picture, there are still dark spots, "bad apples spoiling the barrel". The Nghe An Medical Department will resolutely handle and eliminate those dark spots and bad apples. But on the contrary, we hope that society will have a more generous and sympathetic view of medical staff at the present time.

PV: At present, the medical staff is shrinking, but the workload is getting bigger and more complicated. Many units are implementing financial autonomy, some units are successful, some units have not achieved the desired results. The actual income of medical staff is not high, there is a situation of "one foot outside, one foot inside". What solutions has the medical sector had, is having and will have to improve the material and spiritual life, thereby helping medical staff to concentrate and focus on their profession?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: The wish of a medical practitioner is to have a working environment with many conditions for practice, profession and dedication. That is why, for a long time, public units have attracted more new doctors. Non-public units have a smaller number of patients, less diverse diseases, and less good conditions for practice.

Visiting, guiding, and caring for patients at Nghe An Oncology Hospital. Photo: Luong Thuy

Doctors always want an environment where they can work with peace of mind. Therefore, in recent times, the Nghe An Health sector has paid great attention to improving the working environment. In particular, creating maximum conditions for doctors to practice to the best of their abilities; improving eating, living and working conditions at medical facilities; along with improving the quality of hospital management. The sector still considers building a good working environment as a key task in the coming time. If medical units do not invest well in the working environment, the brain drain and "one foot in, one foot out" situation will continue to occur.

In addition to the issue of working environment, the issue of income and living standards of medical staff is something that the Nghe An Health sector is concerned and worried about. However, to increase income and living standards, it still takes time and cannot be reformed and improved overnight. In large hospitals with many patients, autonomy is implemented very well. In other units, the sector and unit leaders need to try harder. The sector has been encouraging hospitals to implement many legitimate service models within the provisions of law, trying to save money, improve the quality of medical examination and treatment to attract patients to improve the lives of staff, retain and attract good doctors. To do this, the head of the unit needs to be proactive, manage well, and create a modern and sustainable medical facility. The sector will focus on training and arranging suitable personnel.

PV: Like many other professions, in addition to life issues, medical staff also need to be encouraged and honored. What directions and solutions has Nghe An Medical Sector developed to meet that legitimate need?

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh: In fact, although encouraging and honoring good people and good deeds has been emphasized for a long time, it needs to be done better. In the coming time, the industry will promote information and communication work about typical examples in the industry, such as medical staff donating blood to save patients... so that all staff, employees, workers in the industry and the whole society can know.

Medical staff of Nghe An province participate in donating blood to save patients. Photo courtesy of PV

Through communication to light the fire of love for people and love for the profession, it will spread and spread. In addition, the industry will pay attention to training and fostering cadres, employees and workers in the health sector who are "both red and professional", "Doctors are like mothers", always ready to sacrifice for the sick. In addition, continue to organize the replication of good models, emulation movements and commendation and reward activities.

PV: Thank you!