Nghe An province plans to invest over 600 billion VND in developing its grassroots healthcare network.

(Baonghean.vn) - The Nghe An Health Department plans to merge the Health Center and the Grade II General Hospital of a locality by 2025.

At the regular meeting of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee in July 2017, the Nghe An Department of Health submitted for approval the plan to implement the "Project on building and developing the grassroots health network in the new situation" for the period 2017 - 2025 (approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 2348/QD-TTg dated December 5, 2016).

The implementation plan is divided into two phases: 2017-2020 and 2021-2025. In the first phase, the two existing district-level healthcare models – Grade II hospitals and health centers – will continue to be maintained in the following localities: Quynh Luu, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Vinh City, Thanh Chuong, and Do Luong. In the remaining localities that do not yet have Grade II hospitals, the organization of health centers will be further strengthened and improved.

In the second phase, localities with the two aforementioned district-level healthcare models will merge them into a single facility, a district-level health center, ensuring both the functions of medical examination and treatment and preventive medicine.

Laparoscopic surgery at Thanh Chuong General Hospital. Photo courtesy of Thanh Son.

The project aims to improve and strengthen the human resources and infrastructure of the grassroots healthcare network, enhance its service capacity, increase people's access to healthcare services, and reduce the burden on higher-level hospitals.

The health sector has also set the task of reforming the financial mechanisms for the operation of primary healthcare. Notably, the following policies are being implemented: promoting the autonomy of public healthcare institutions, and implementing the Ministry of Health's regulations on the basic healthcare service package, clearly defining the portion covered by the health insurance fund.

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee - agreed with the policy of developing the grassroots healthcare network and improving the quality of primary healthcare for the people, especially in special areas. However, he requested the Health sector to provide specific explanations for each indicator in order to closely monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the project.

The estimated funding will come from the state budget (central and local), the health care budget, and the 20% surplus from the health insurance fund for medical examination and treatment (if any).

TA