Nghe An will pilot 'self-insurance of regular expenditure and development investment expenditure' at a public hospital.

On the morning of February 21, at the regular February meeting, the Provincial People's Committee listened to a report assessing the plan for autonomy and self-responsibility for performing tasks, organizing apparatus, personnel and finance of public health units, period 2017 - 2019.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Co-chairs included comrades: Le Ngoc Hoa - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: Thanh Duy

19 AUTONOMOUS HOSPITALS GROUP II

Nghe An has 16 hospitals assigned group 2 autonomy, of which in 2017 there were 8 units including: Provincial Friendship General Hospital, Obstetrics - Pediatrics, Oncology, Endocrinology, Rehabilitation, Northwest Regional General Hospital, Southwest Regional General Hospital, Vinh City General Hospital.

In 2018, there were 7 units including General Hospitals: Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Thanh Chuong; Trauma - Orthopedics Hospital and Lung Hospital. In 2019, there was an Eye Hospital.

Accordingly, regarding autonomy in performing tasks, by the end of 2019, hospitals had implemented 100% of the approved technical list, of which upper-level techniques accounted for an average of 30%.

Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health spoke at the conference. Photo: Thanh Duy

Implementing autonomy in organizational structure, hospitals have increased investment in infrastructure, modern medical equipment, increased the quantity and quality of human resources; thereby proactively building development plans for departments, offices/divisions.

Regarding human resource autonomy, up to now, the number of employees working at 16 autonomous public hospitals in group 2 is 6,123 people/12,457 people in the whole industry (accounting for 49.2%). Of the 6,123 people of 16 autonomous units, there are 4,362 people from 8 autonomous hospitals in the period of 2017-2019 and 1,706 people from 8 autonomous hospitals in 2018 and 2019.

A very important issue is financial autonomy. According to Nghe An Department of Health, the revenue of hospitals increases every year, while the State budget reduces the annual autonomy funding of hospitals by 215,493 billion VND.

At the meeting, Director of Nghe An Department of Health Duong Dinh Chinh proposed to continue implementing autonomy in group 2 for the period 2020 - 2022 including 7 hospitals: Provincial General Hospital, Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Oncology, Endocrinology, Rehabilitation, Northwest General Hospital, Southwest General Hospital; Approving the pilot plan to implement autonomy in group I for a period of 2 years (2020 - 2021) "self-guaranteeing regular and investment expenses" for Vinh City General Hospital.

“Here, we have only proposed 8/16 units to complete the 3-year cycle, with 7 more units this year and 1 more unit in 2021,” the Director of the Department of Health clarified, adding that up to now, Nghe An has had 19 hospitals implementing group 2 autonomy because only 3 more units implemented it in 2020.

Infrastructure of Vinh City General Hospital is invested. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

According to Resolution No. 85/2015/ND-CP of the Government on the operating mechanism and financial mechanism for public health service units and prices of medical examination and treatment services of public health service facilities, medical service units are registered and classified into the following groups:

Group 1: Units with self-sufficient revenue sources that can fully cover regular operating expenses and development investment expenses;

Group 2: Units with self-sufficient revenue sources that can fully cover regular operating expenses;

Group 3: Units with revenue sources that partially cover regular operating expenses;

Group 4: Units with low or no revenue, regular operating expenses according to assigned functions and tasks are fully guaranteed by the State budget.

The registration and classification of health service units are stable for a period of 3 years. After 3 years, the classification will be reviewed and reclassified accordingly. In case the unit has changes in revenue sources or expenditure tasks that fundamentally change the level of self-insurance for regular operating expenses, the classification will be considered for adjustment before the deadline.

PILOT AUTONOMY OF VINH CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL GROUP 1

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged many positive changes in autonomous hospitals, including many modern equipment, especially high-tech equipment, so the conditions for serving patients are better. However, autonomous units are currently facing many difficulties, especially in terms of institutions.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

Concluding the content, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee agreed to the proposal to continue implementing autonomy in the 2020 - 2022 period of 7 group 2 units as proposed by the Department of Health.

In addition, the Health sector agreed to advise on the Pilot Plan to implement group 1 autonomy for a period of 2 years (2020 - 2021) "self-guaranteeing regular and investment expenditures" for Vinh City General Hospital, with the view of creating fairness, health, and sustainable development of the hospital; at the same time, ensuring the interests of the State and the collective in the process of autonomy.

Many other recommendations related to the issue of hospital autonomy were also clearly pointed out by the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for implementation.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee delivered the concluding speech. Photo: Thanh Duy

Also at the meeting, the Provincial People's Committee listened to and commented on many other contents such as: Report on 5 years of implementing Decision 52-QD/TTg of the Prime Minister approving the adjustment of the General Planning of Vinh city, Nghe An province to 2030, vision 2050; approved the Proposal for the Provincial People's Council to consider issuing a Resolution of the Provincial People's Council on policies to support the development of community tourism in the province;...