Many shortcomings need to be addressed in medical examination and treatment at hospitals.

On August 22nd, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, led by Ms. Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, conducted a supervisory visit on medical examination and treatment work during the period 2018-2022 at Thai An Oncology and General Hospital.

HUMAN RESOURCE SHORTAGE

In their proposal to the Supervisory Delegation, representatives from the Nghe An Oncology Hospital highlighted the unit's difficulties regarding human resources, procedures for bidding on medicines and medical supplies, and the somewhat limited incentive policies for medical staff.

The inspection team worked with the Nghe An Oncology Hospital. Photo: Thanh Le

According to Dr. Tran Duc Hung, Head of the Personnel Department at the Oncology Hospital, the number of cancer patients is increasing, with the hospital having 1,400 inpatients at times, while there is a severe shortage of medical staff. The hospital hopes to recruit more personnel to ensure patients' rights and meet the criteria of a medical staff-to-bed ratio.

"The hospital has submitted a recruitment proposal for over 150 medical staff and sent the recruitment plan to the Department of Internal Affairs and the Department of Health more than a month ago, but has not yet received a response. The shortage of human resources is due to the fact that the hospital has not yet recruited enough personnel according to the approved job position plan," said Dr. Hung.

Dr. Pham Vinh Hung, Deputy Director of Nghe An Oncology Hospital, clarifies the issues of concern to the inspection team. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding the difficulties and obstacles, Dr. Do Tri Diem, Deputy Director of the Oncology Hospital, reflected: Currently, medical facilities face difficulties in the drug bidding process. It takes 7-8 months to develop the bidding list and 4 months for the bidding itself. From the time the list is developed until the bidding results are available, it takes a year.

"The National Drug Procurement Center's delay in issuing the results of drug procurement and price negotiation results leaves hospitals unprepared for drug supply. In some cases, this causes localized drug shortages for drugs on the national bidding list and the price negotiation list."

For example, in 2022, due to the delayed announcement of the national bidding results, there was a shortage of Anastrozol for about two months. With the permission of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, the Oncology Hospital organized a supplementary bidding process to obtain Anastrozol to meet the treatment needs of patients.

“The National Drug Procurement Center needs to issue the results of the bidding process on schedule, helping healthcare units proactively supply drugs to meet the treatment needs of patients. The Department of Health should take the lead in organizing drug bidding for medical examination and treatment units in the province to reduce the burden on these facilities and allow them to focus on examination and treatment.”

The hospital hopes that the Provincial People's Committee and the Health Department will create favorable conditions to promote the socialization of medical services in order to mobilize resources and strengthen the capacity of medical facilities to improve the quality and diversify medical services, while proactively controlling the quality of medical services.

MANY SHORTCOMINGS AND OBSTACLES

A view of the working session. Photo: Thanh Le

After 15 years of establishment,Thai An General Hospital has been operating stably and developing steadily, contributing to reducing the burden on higher-level hospitals in terms of medical examination and treatment; creating fair competition between private and public medical facilities to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment for the people.

According to the hospital's report, the unit is currently facing numerous difficulties. In the early years of its establishment, the number of patients seeking medical treatment was high, often leading to overcrowding. However, since 2016, the mechanism and policies allowing for inter-hospital referrals within the same category and level have helped the hospital maintain a stable daily volume of 250-300 outpatient visits and 120-150 inpatients. In addition, the hospital has been implementing a project to build a technical area and an outpatient clinic since 2016, but this has not yet been resolved.

Members of the Supervisory Delegation attend a working session with Thai An General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Le

"Specialized hospitals are under the Department of Health, but management procedures are decided by the Ministry of Health (such as the allocation of hospital beds based on the hospital's proposal, but any changes or adjustments to ensure efficiency within the hospital, departments, or wards must be submitted to the Ministry of Health, and the approval process takes at least 2-3 months from submission to final approval)."

"The total amount of health insurance payments for medical examination and treatment under Article 24 of Decree 146/ND-CP/2018 is unreasonable, especially during the 2020-2021 pandemic and the first months of 2022, as well as the increased demand from patients and the increase in technical services," - doctorDr. Phan The Long, Deputy Executive Director of Thai An Hospital, stated.

The inspection team checks the site where the project to expand the medical examination and treatment facilities of Thai An General Hospital is being implemented. Photo: Thanh Le.

Concluding the working sessions, Comrade Thai Thi An Chung shared the difficulties faced by the medical examination and treatment facilities of the hospitals. She highly appreciated the efforts of the hospitals in providing medical examination and treatment for the people.

To improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, the comrade suggested that hospitals need solutions to strengthen the attraction of human resources, focus on professional and technical training; invest in facilities and equipment to apply high-tech and specialized techniques; and pay attention to scientific research. Hospitals need to have plans to create conditions for medical staff to obtain professional practice certificates.

Visiting patients receiving treatment at Thai An General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Le

Simultaneously, actively coordinate with relevant agencies to resolve difficulties in settling health insurance claims for medical examinations and treatments; promote the application of information technology in medical examination and treatment activities; cooperate in disseminating information to patients about their rights and obligations; and educate staff about their responsibilities, rights, and obligations in practicing their profession.

Comrade Thai Thi An Chung delivers concluding remarks at the working session with Thai An General Hospital. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding the unit's proposed solutions to the problems, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation will consider them and present them at the upcoming meeting with the Provincial People's Committee. For recommendations at the central level, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation will compile them and forward them to the relevant ministries and agencies.