Nghe An: Close all unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments in the first quarter of 2018

(Baonghean.vn) - In the first quarter of 2018, Nghe An will completely resolve the issue of unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments - That is the direction of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong at the meeting on the management of private medical and pharmaceutical practices in Nghe An on the afternoon of December 5.

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting; attended by representatives of leaders of departments, branches, sectors and 21 districts, cities and towns in the province. Photo: Thanh Son

Number of private medical and pharmaceutical establishments ranked 3rd in the country

As of September 30, 2017, Nghe An has 2,177 licensed private medical and pharmaceutical establishments. Of these, 303 establishments practice medical examination and treatment (10 hospitals, 23 general clinics, 270 specialized clinics and other types); 1,832 establishments practice pharmacy (72 pharmaceutical companies and branches, 204 pharmacies, 505 drug stores, 1,051 drug agents).

Nghe An Department of Health has granted medical practice certificates to 9,826 doctors, physicians, nurses, technicians, and midwives; granted 810 medical practice licenses to district general hospitals, commune health stations, and clinics; granted pharmaceutical practice certificates to 2,641 people, and 1,823 business eligibility certificates.

Leaders of Nghe An Department of Health pointed out that many localities have not paid attention to the management of private medical practice in the area. Photo: Thanh Son

In order to manage medical and pharmaceutical practice, recently, the health sector and relevant agencies have advised and issued many documents on rectification and strengthening inspection and strict handling of violating establishments, resolutely eliminating establishments without licenses as prescribed; fully implementing propaganda, training and dissemination of documents violating relevant laws.

In general, private medical practice in Nghe An is very developed (ranked 3rd in the country after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). Facilities have covered all communes, wards, towns and villages. Through management activities, organizations and individuals practicing medicine have raised awareness, voluntarily complied with state regulations, contributing to the care and protection of people's health.

342 illegal establishments are operating

Carrying out inspections of licensed private medical and pharmaceutical practices, from 2015 to September 2017, Nghe An Department of Health inspected 112 establishments and fined 32 establishments with a total of 318.5 million VND; District, city and town People's Committees inspected 1,919 establishments and fined 102 establishments with a total of 374.1 million VND.

The main violations at medical practice facilities were operating beyond the permitted scope; lacking necessary equipment, not having measures to prevent anaphylactic shock, and the facility owner not being present.

Violations at pharmaceutical establishments include not keeping a logbook for imported and sold drugs; the establishment does not have adequate conditions for drug preservation; storing drugs mixed with functional foods; selling drugs without prescription; the establishment owner is absent (essentially, the establishment hires a doctor or pharmacist).

The Health Department inspection team inspected the unlicensed dental clinic Ngoc Thang, Do Luong town. After the inspection, the team proposed that the district government issue a decision to suspend operations; but to date, this dental clinic is still operating. Photo: Thanh Son

The management of private medical practice still has many limitations, namely: Inspection and examination work is not yet drastic; mainly checking establishments with operating licenses; administrative sanctions are still few, mainly warnings and there are no effective measures to eliminate unlicensed establishments...

The number of medical examination and treatment facilities without a license to practice is high. In 2017, there were 342 unlicensed facilities.... The majority of these unlicensed facilities were not inspected, in 3 years only 32 facilities were inspected. There is a phenomenon that the local authorities protect unlicensed facilities.

Coordination between some sectors in local inspection and examination has not achieved high results. The awareness of some organizations and individuals in their activities is not high, and they are just coping with the inspection team. Authorities at all levels have not paid attention to the management of medical practice activities in the management area, but consider this the task of the Provincial People's Committee and the health sector.

Must strictly discipline officials who ignore and protect illegal establishments.

At the meeting, the delegates focused on discussing solutions to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings. These are: Strengthening propaganda activities on private medical and pharmaceutical practice; implementing well the coordination regulations between the medical sector and the People's Committees at district level and other sectors; enhancing the role, functions, tasks, and authority to sanction administrative violations, strengthening post-inspection supervision, and resolutely eliminating unlicensed medical establishments.

At this meeting, Nghe An Department of Health proposed decentralizing the inspection of medical and pharmaceutical establishments in the province to avoid overlapping inspections and missing uninspected establishments (piloted in Vinh city since May 11, 2017).

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Deputy Head of Nghe An Market Management Department, stated: To put an end to the situation of unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments, there must be drastic and determined participation of local Party committees and authorities. Photo: Thanh Son

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the District People's Committee to be responsible for inspecting and testing in the area, including specialized clinics, medical service facilities, drug dealers, retail establishments specializing in medicinal herbs, herbal medicines, traditional medicines, and medicine cabinets at health stations.

The People's Committees of districts, cities and towns coordinate with relevant agencies to thoroughly resolve illegal establishments in the area; include the management of private medical practice in the year-end assessment criteria for the People's Committees at the district level.

During the meeting, Nghe An Department of Health named 5 localities with the most illegal medical establishments, namely Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Do Luong, Dien Chau. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong asked the representatives of the 5 districts to explain and propose solutions.

Speaking at the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong stated: Medical establishments are located all around us, right in crowded towns. These are easy to see objects. Dealing with these violators is not difficult, but the authorities and sectors are still being lenient and lacking strong measures.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong requested all levels and sectors to resolutely rectify the situation of unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments. Photo: Thanh Son

For the health of tens of thousands and millions of people, it is necessary to resolutely and strictly handle the situation of practicing medicine without a license. In the first quarter of 2018, all unlicensed establishments must be closed; no delay in handling the situation is allowed. Any official or locality that ignores or fails to strictly implement the regulations must be disciplined.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested: The Department of Health to strengthen communication activities to disseminate laws within its sector; conduct reviews of all facilities in the area; preside over departments and branches to conduct inspections; coordinate with departments and localities to develop coordination regulations and decentralize management of medical and pharmaceutical practice facilities.

Localities in the province from district to commune level must resolutely prevent and handle illegal establishments; fully and regularly report to the Department of Health and the Provincial People's Committee. Police and market management agencies must continue to do a good job in their management and control in this field.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested press and media agencies to provide clear information on this field; People's Councils and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels to strengthen supervision and criticism activities./.

Thanh Son