Research on bank loan options to build medical facilities

Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Acting Director of Nghe An Department of Health proposed a loan plan to invest in medical facilities. Photo: Thanh Chung

After 1 year of implementing the project, the socialization of non-public health care in Nghe An has achieved many good results, both in terms of facilities and service provision. In 2017, 01 new hospital was established, bringing the total number of non-public hospitals in the province to 11. In addition, there are 271 private and other specialized clinics.

On March 6, 2017, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 813/QD-UBND approving the Project "Developing health care work towards socialization to improve the quality of disease prevention, medical examination and treatment and improve the health of people in Nghe An province in the period of 2017-2020".

During the year, these hospitals invested more than 300 billion VND to build facilities and invested 72 billion VND to buy 479 pieces of equipment... Currently, non-public healthcare in Nghe An is ranked 3rd nationwide.

Socialization in public units has also achieved many good results: Up to now, 22/35 units have implemented socialization. In 2017, units implemented 12 projects, installed 42 machines with a total cost of more than 73 billion VND. Some units have built infrastructure and medical clinics according to specific requirements.

Doctor Phan Van Tu reports on shortcomings at the Examination and Treatment Area at the request of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Photo: Thanh Chung

In general, the socialization of healthcare has contributed to solving the problem of hospital overload, diversifying and improving the quality of technical services, reducing public investment, and creating convenience for patients.

In 2017, non-public medical facilities examined over 600,000 patients, accounting for 11% of the entire industry.

Besides the achievements, the socialization of healthcare also reveals some shortcomings: The distribution of non-public facilities is uneven, 9/11 non-public hospitals are located in Vinh city.

Many hospitals have increased modern equipment for medical examination and treatment. Photo: Archive

Socialization in public facilities through forms of joint ventures, associations, capital contributions, equipment rental, and chemical vending machine installation has and will expose many issues related to profits, affecting the development of technical services and social security.

At the meeting, the Nghe An Department of Health proposed a “new” approach, which is to mobilize social resources by borrowing capital from credit institutions to build facilities and purchase medical equipment. In fact, this approach has been clearly stated in Resolution No. 93 of the Government and Decision 813 of the Provincial People's Committee. And now, this approach has been successfully implemented by many provinces and cities... At the meeting, the delegates focused on discussing this direction.

Comrade Le Minh Thong requested the Department of Health to survey the borrowing needs and debt repayment capacity of medical units. Photo: Thanh Chung

Speaking at the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested: Nghe An Department of Health needs to carefully study Resolution 93/NQ-CP of the Government on a number of health development policies and mechanisms, Decree 16/2015/ND-CP regulating the autonomy mechanism of public service units and consider the practices of Phu Tho province and Ho Chi Minh City to develop a project on borrowing capital from credit institutions to purchase equipment and build facilities at public medical examination and treatment units.

The project needs to carefully survey the borrowing needs, the debt repayment capacity of the units, hospital management, and the decentralization mechanism. After the project is completed, it will be submitted to the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee for specific consideration./.