'Hot' situation of illegal private medicine in Nghe An

The Department of Health inspects the operations of medical and pharmaceutical establishments. Photo: Archive

Many unlicensed and illegal establishments

In recent times, private medical and pharmaceutical practice in Nghe An has grown strongly in both quantity and quality (ranking 3rd in the country after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City). As of 2019, the total number of licensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments was 2,760 (532 medical establishments, 2,237 pharmaceutical establishments).

To strengthen the management of non-public medical and pharmaceutical practice in the area, on January 29, 2018, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Directive No. 03/CT-UBND. Directive 03 was issued to rectify private medical and pharmaceutical practice with the active participation of departments, branches, sectors and localities from training, dissemination of legal documents to inspection and examination.

The interdisciplinary team suddenly inspected Tram Anh pharmacy in Hamlet 1, Ngoc Son Commune. This pharmacy is owned by Ms. Pham Thi Thu in Quynh Hung Commune. Photo: Archive

As a result, many unlicensed establishments have been eliminated, and erring establishments have been corrected. Specifically: Before Directive 03 was issued, the number of unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments reviewed and reported by districts was 685; after implementing the Directive, as of September 30, 2018, there were 83 establishments left.

However, entering 2019, state management of private medical and pharmaceutical practice seems to be lax and negligent, so violations in the process of medical examination and treatment reappear with high density. Common violations are: Practicing beyond the permitted scope; advertising beyond the scope of expertise; signs not in accordance with regulations; incomplete listing of drug prices and medical service prices; practitioners not holding the correct title, the person in charge of expertise is absent when the facility is operating...

Checking the traditional medicine counter at Vinh market. Photo: Archive

A typical violator is Thai Duong General Clinic (under Thai Duong Investment and Trading Services Company Limited) located at 99 Le Loi Street, Vinh City. At this facility, nurses "disguised" as doctors to examine patients; patients who were not sick still "caught" sick patients; there were not enough practitioners suitable for the scope of professional activities... Upon receiving the feedback, the Department of Health established an inspection team and decided to revoke the operating license.

In addition to violations by licensed medical establishments, since the beginning of the year, unlicensed establishments have increased at a rapid rate. These unlicensed establishments include both those that were suspended but resumed operations and newly established establishments.

By the end of May 2019, the number of unlicensed establishments operating was 181; an increase of 98 establishments compared to the previous statistics). However, since the beginning of the year, the Department of Health has organized 2 random monitoring rounds and discovered 19 more unlicensed dental clinics, not listed in the statistical reports of the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities.

The province currently has many unlicensed dental clinics that have not been counted. Photo: Thanh Chung

And since the beginning of the year, these unlicensed dental clinics have “caused trouble” for many people. A typical case was in January 2019, Mr. Ngu Van C. (born in 1959, residing in Dong Van commune, Thanh Chuong, Nghe An) went to get dental services at Hoai Giang Dental Clinic in Dung town. Here, after getting dental services, Mr. C. suddenly fainted. The victim was transferred to the district and provincial hospital for emergency treatment but later died.

In 2018, the Department of Health established 17 inspection teams to inspect and administratively sanction 49 establishments, with a fine of VND 646 million. Nghe An Provincial Police and Market Management Department inspected over 1,000 establishments and handled nearly 700 violations. District-level People's Committees have organized many inspections of private medical and pharmaceutical practices in the area. As of May 31, 2019, 504 establishments practicing without a license were suspended, and 222 establishments were fined with a total of VND 865 million.

Reporters of Nghe An Newspaper have followed inspection and supervision teams of Nghe An health sector to localities such as Hoang Mai Town, Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Vinh City and confirmed: The situation of illegal and unlicensed medical and pharmaceutical establishments is still very common. Inspection and sanctioning activities face many difficulties when inspecting and handling one establishment, all other unlicensed and unlicensed establishments in the same area are simultaneously closed. Meanwhile, the inspection and supervision force is very thin and the operating time is not much.

Checking a medical and pharmaceutical facility in the area, a series of other facilities closed. Photo: Thanh Chung

The Health Department has only 2 people, but the state management of the health sector is very broad, so the management of private medical and pharmaceutical practices is limited. When implementing activities, it is necessary to coordinate with related units. There is no funding to implement activities, so when organizing inspections, there are many difficulties.

Mr. Truong Duc Nam - Head of Dien Chau District Health Department

The situation of illegal and unlicensed private medical and pharmaceutical establishments operating strongly again has shown the following facts: Supervision and post-inspection are not strict and not regular. District authorities, especially commune authorities, have not clearly demonstrated their roles and responsibilities and have not had appropriate solutions to thoroughly resolve illegal practice in the area.

Many localities still assign the main responsibility to the Department of Health, other sectors do not participate fully and have not promoted their responsibility in performing their duties. The handling of administrative violations of illegal establishments is not strict and not resolute; there are also localities that inspect illegal practices but do not impose administrative penalties.

The increasing number of unlicensed and illegal establishments requires all levels of industry and localities to further strengthen propaganda and inspection work.

“The Provincial People's Committee needs to include the management of non-public medical and pharmaceutical practice according to the assessment of the implementation of Directive 03 in the 2019 year-end classification criteria for the District People's Committees. Districts, cities and towns also need to include the assessment of the implementation of Directive 03 in the year-end classification criteria, clarify responsibilities and have forms of handling for organizations and individuals involved in not strictly implementing the directive; review and make a list of specific addresses of unlicensed practice establishments for strict inspection and handling; arrange reasonable human resources and expenses for the inspection of private medical and pharmaceutical practice activities in the regular operating budget of the District People's Committees”.

Doctor Dau Huy Hoan - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Health

Number of unlicensed private medical and pharmaceutical establishments in 2019 compared to 2018: Do Luong has 91 (an increase of 76 establishments); Hoang Mai Town has 34 (an increase of 27 establishments); Quynh Luu has 8 (an increase of 8 establishments); Nam Dan has 2 (an increase of 02 establishments); Con Cuong has 4 (an increase of 1 establishment); Vinh City has 18 (an increase of 1 establishment); Que Phong has 2 (an increase of 2 establishments); Nghi Loc has 3 (an increase of 3 establishments)...