Director of Nghe An Department of Health proposes solutions to overcome shortage of drugs and medical supplies

On the morning of July 13, in Vinh City, the 7th Session of the People's Council of Nghe An Province, term XVIII, 2021 - 2026, entered its second working day. The Provincial People's Council held discussions in the hall.

Chairman of the 7th Session, 18th Provincial People's Council. Photo: Thanh Cuong

During the discussion session at the hall, delegate Chu Duc Thai - Head of the Culture - Society Committee (Provincial People's Council) asked: After the Covid-19 pandemic, the bidding and procurement of drugs, medical supplies, and chemicals encountered many difficulties, leading to difficulties for medical facilities in implementing medical examination and treatment activities, when the number of patients after the Covid-19 pandemic increased.

Delegate Chu Duc Thai - Head of the Culture - Social Committee of the Provincial People's Council asked about the shortage of medicine, medical supplies and chemicals. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Answering the question of delegate Thai, Mr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health said that this is a hot and current issue for all medical units nationwide, and is of interest to the people.

"However, currently, the supply of drugs and medical supplies in Nghe An province is temporarily stable, with only a local shortage of a few items related to oriental medicine and cancer treatment at some medical units," Mr. Chinh affirmed, but also predicted that in the coming time, there will be many subjective and objective reasons for a shortage of drugs and medical supplies at medical units.

According to the Director of the Department of Health, the first reason for this situation is the change in disease patterns, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of patients has increased, causing many hospitals to be overloaded. Therefore, the drug budget for the past 2 years has been disrupted, leading to a shortage of drugs.

Mr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health answered and explained the questions of the delegates. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The second reason is that the mechanism for bidding for drugs and medical supplies has certain shortcomings, especially related to the directive documents that are no longer suitable at this point. "Regarding drugs, the main issue is the auction, the price for the next plan must be lower than the previous one. Therefore, in the auction process, if you want good drugs, you will not achieve the goal," said Mr. Chinh.

The head of the health sector said that although the circulars guiding the bidding for drugs and supplies have just been issued, they are still inadequate. For example, the selection of items, groups of drugs, and medical supplies between Europe and Asia are similar, so bidding is very difficult. This shows that currently, central hospitals are also lacking in drugs.

The third reason, according to Mr. Chinh, is related to bidding regulations. "Bidding has 3 levels: national level, provincial level and medical units. Currently, Nghe An mainly involves national bidding. Some drug items are out of stock, or the items are on the bidding list but the drug visa number has not been issued yet. For example, cancer treatment drugs are not available so patients have to buy them outside," said Mr. Chinh.

Provincial People's Council delegates and district leaders attending the meeting. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Another objective reason, according to the Director of the Department of Health, is that the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic has caused the production and supply chain to be disrupted. Meanwhile, we mainly use imported drugs, with few domestically produced drugs. On the other hand, businesses are hesitant to supply drugs and medical supplies at the present time.

Regarding subjective causes, there is the fear of medical units; the capacity of medical units in bidding.

Regarding the lack of equipment at medical facilities, the head of the health sector said there are three main reasons. First, the province's resources are limited; for units using autonomous budgets, the resources to purchase equipment are limited. Second, the purchase of this equipment faces many difficulties such as bidding for medicines. Third, the socialization of health care faces many difficulties for units and localities. At some public hospitals, technical services must be transferred to private hospitals to be able to use the machines.

To overcome the above difficulties, in the coming time, Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh said that there have been solutions in the bidding for medicines and medical supplies. The Department of Health will conduct centralized bidding at the Department for 129 items in accordance with regulations, ensuring progress.

Shortages of drugs and medical supplies are occurring in many localities across the country. Illustration photo: Thanh Chung

The Department of Health has also organized bidding training courses for units in the sector; established support teams, especially 10 teams at the provincial level, including pharmacists with bidding experience to support hospitals, medical units, and mountainous districts; developed sample bidding procedures for units to implement. Timely directed and guided units to ensure progress; Strengthened inspection and supervision, especially for district-level hospitals and mountainous units.

The fundamental solution in the coming time, in addition to recommending the Ministry of Health to advise the Government to amend the directive documents, Director of the Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh proposed the Provincial People's Committee to establish a Bidding Center for the procurement of drugs, medical supplies, equipment, and chemicals as the model that some provinces have done; or add tasks and functions for bidding for drugs, medical supplies, and chemicals at the Nghe An Financial Support and Consulting Center./.