To develop high-quality healthcare human resources.
According to Resolution No. 23/2011/NQ-HĐND of the Provincial People's Council, by 2020, the health sector must achieve 7 doctors per 10,000 people; 90% of commune health stations in the plains and 70-90% in mountainous areas must have doctors; the number of doctors needed by 2015 is 2,132. As of 2011, the total number of doctors in public health facilities throughout the province was 1,364, with a need to add 536; the number of university-trained pharmacists was 47, with a need to add 57 to meet the set target.
(Baonghean)According to Resolution No. 23/2011/NQ-HĐND of the Provincial People's Council, by 2020, the health sector must achieve 7 doctors per 10,000 people; 90% of commune health stations in the plains and 70-90% in mountainous areas must have doctors; the number of doctors needed by 2015 is 2,132. As of 2011, the total number of doctors in public health facilities throughout the province was 1,364, with a need to add 536; the number of university-trained pharmacists was 47, with a need to add 57 to meet the set target.
To gradually address the aforementioned issues in the health sector, the 16th Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 34/2011/NQ-HĐND, dated December 9, 2011, on a number of policies for developing public health human resources in Nghe An province (including support for training university and postgraduate doctors and pharmacists, and support for attracting doctors, including those with average qualifications, to specialized hospitals, district-level hospitals in low and high mountainous areas, and commune health stations). Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 17/2012/QĐ-UBND to concretize a number of policies for developing public health human resources. To date, the policy has been implemented for one year and has initially proven its practicality.
Modern equipment and techniques are used in medical examinations at Thanh Chuong General Hospital.
At Thanh Chuong District General Hospital, the province's policy to support the development of high-quality human resources has overcome the difficulties the hospital was facing, namely the cost of staff education. Dr. Nguyen Thinh Khuyen, Deputy Director of the hospital, said: “For decades, the hospital couldn't attract any doctors, but in 2012, thanks to the province's policy, we attracted 5 doctors. This provincial policy has also encouraged many staff members who previously lacked the opportunity to pursue further education. In 2012 alone, the hospital sent 6 doctors for specialist training (Level I); 1 doctor for specialist training (Level II); and 3 pharmacists for university-level training.”
Not only at Thanh Chuong General Hospital, but generally, the policies of the Provincial People's Council have been implemented in many public health facilities throughout the province. According to a preliminary report from the Department of Health, after one year of implementing the Resolution, the entire province has sent 105 doctors for postgraduate training (including 1 PhD; 18 specialists in Level II; 65 specialists in Level I and resident doctors; and 21 masters in medicine); and 47 secondary-level medical assistants and pharmacists have been trained to become doctors. The recruitment and attraction of doctors to work in Nghe An also shows an upward trend, with a total of 149 doctors, including 76 at the provincial level, 55 at the district level, and 18 at the commune level. In addition, localities have also actively attracted 26 retired doctors to collaborate in commune-level health facilities.
However, while the training program implemented under the Provincial People's Council's policy has been effective, the recruitment efforts have not yielded the desired results. In Thanh Chuong district, to date, no doctors have been recruited at the district and commune-level health centers. Similarly, specialized hospitals such as the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital, the Provincial Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, and the Provincial Forensic Examination Center, despite receiving the highest incentives and being located in the center of Vinh City, have still failed to attract any doctors. Investigations reveal that Nghe An province attracts approximately 70 doctors annually, while hospitals considered "high-value" such as the Provincial Friendship General Hospital, Nghe An Oncology Hospital, and Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital are still experiencing shortages and have a need to recruit even those with average academic qualifications.
To solve this problem, according to health officials, policies need to be further revised and supplemented in a more open direction, increasing training support. In reality, the cost of studying medicine is high, and policies should include support for housing and job opportunities for the spouses of recruited medical personnel to ensure family stability. More importantly, policies should be implemented to invest in infrastructure and medical equipment for healthcare facilities, especially at the district and commune levels, to create jobs and increase income for doctors; while simultaneously creating a working environment that fosters dedication and professional growth for healthcare workers. In addition, the enrollment quotas for university-level doctors and pharmacists at formal training institutions should be increased, or specialized training programs should be strengthened to provide additional resources for healthcare facilities in the province.
Mai Hoa
