Sharing with healthcare workers who don't receive Tet bonuses.
(Baonghean.vn) - This Tet holiday, officials and employees of the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital are still owed salaries and have not received Tet bonuses. The Nghe An Department of Health and the Health Sector Trade Union have offered support and encouragement to these healthcare workers.
Unpaid salaries, no Tet bonus.
In 2023, Nghe An Dermatology Hospital had not yet implemented contracts for medical examination and treatment under health insurance and organized inpatient treatment. The hospital only provided outpatient examination and treatment. The total number of patients examined and treated was lower than the planned target (40,000 patients). The hospital's revenue from hospital fees was insufficient to cover expenses, leading to prolonged delays in salary payments to staff and employees. As of the end of 2023, Nghe An Dermatology Hospital had only paid salaries to staff and employees up to August 2023.
In response to this situation, on January 29, 2024, the Chairman of the Trade Union of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital sent a letter to the Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital requesting clarification on three issues: “When will hospital staff receive their September 2023 salaries? Will hospital staff receive any bonuses for the Lunar New Year 2024? Given the prolonged salary arrears, what practical actions or measures has the Director taken, is taking, or will take to improve this situation?”
In a discussion with the Chairman of the Trade Union of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital and other hospital officials, Mr. Huynh Phuc Son – Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital – stated: Nghe An Dermatology Hospital was established on September 23, 2019, according to Decision No. 3731/QD-UBND; it is a Group 2 autonomous unit (autonomous in recurrent expenditure) according to Decision No. 1674/QD-UBND dated June 1, 2020, of the People's Committee of Nghe An province. This means that the State does not provide funding for the hospital to cover recurrent expenses, including salaries.
The payment of salaries to staff members depends entirely on the hospital's revenue from hospital fees. After deducting expenses for purchasing chemicals, biological products, and consumable medical supplies for examination and treatment, the remaining amount is used to pay salaries and establish other funds as prescribed. However, currently, the hospital's revenue is insufficient to cover monthly salaries for its staff.
To pay staff salaries, the hospital has sent a letter to the Nghe An Department of Health requesting permission from competent authorities to borrow 273 million VND from its career development fund. The Nghe An Department of Health has also sent a letter to the Nghe An Department of Finance, but has yet to receive a reply. The hospital director is currently unable to provide an answer regarding when hospital staff will receive their September 2023 salaries… Due to the fact that the hospital's revenue and existing funds amount to over 275 million VND (reward fund, career development fund, income stabilization fund), hospital staff will not receive Tet bonuses.
According to Mr. Huynh Phuc Son: In order to pay salaries and additional income (if any) for officials and employees, the hospital needs revenue. The hospital's revenue consists of two main sources: hospital fees and revenue from the pharmacy... Revenue from hospital fees comes from the development of technical services. However, at this time, the hospital has only implemented 30% of the approved technical services. The reason is that the hospital is lacking equipment and does not have the funds to purchase it.
Furthermore, because the university-trained pharmacist with a valid practice certificate who was qualified to open a pharmacy at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital has resigned, the current staff of the Hospital's Pharmacy Department does not meet the requirements stipulated in Circular No. 22 dated November 22, 2011, of the Ministry of Health and Point 1, Article 6 of Circular 15/2011/TT-BYT dated April 19, 2011, regulating the professional activities of retail drug establishments. Therefore, Nghe An Dermatology Hospital cannot reopen its pharmacy, resulting in no revenue from the pharmacy.
Mr. Huynh Phuc Son also stated that the hospital's problems are difficult to resolve due to numerous existing regulations. The hospital needs a special mechanism, as well as the early involvement of the trade union. Initially, the director will coordinate with the trade union and the people's inspectorate to tighten discipline and work schedule to improve current work efficiency; and direct specialized departments to strengthen professional meetings to enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities, so that when equipment and personnel are available, they can achieve breakthroughs.
Clearly, the hospital director's answers were not satisfactory to the hospital's staff and employees, especially with the Lunar New Year approaching.
No one should be left behind.
Faced with difficulties, the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital submitted a report on its current situation to the Nghe An Department of Health for guidance. The Department of Health organized numerous meetings and established a support team to address the hospital's challenges, assigning a Deputy Director to oversee the support efforts. Currently, the Nghe An Department of Health is providing support to the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital by supplementing personnel and equipment; reviewing and developing several departments; completing several technical procedures for examination and treatment under health insurance; attracting patients; and gradually stabilizing employment, income, and living standards for its staff and workers.
In 2024, the Nghe An Department of Health will strive to support the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital in implementing comprehensive medical examination and treatment activities commensurate with the functions and tasks of a provincial-level specialized hospital. This includes organizing inpatient treatment with 20 beds; implementing contracts for medical examination and treatment under health insurance for patients with health insurance cards and referral letters; and operating the hospital pharmacy in accordance with the law.
Promoting the spirit of mutual support and assistance for officials and employees at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the leaders of the Department of Health and the Health Sector Trade Union recently held a meeting to listen to the thoughts and aspirations of union members and employees at Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. At this meeting, on behalf of the hospital's officials and employees, Dr. Le Thi Hiep - President of the hospital's trade union - reported on the employment situation, living conditions, and income of union members and employees, and presented recommendations to the Hospital Director, the Nghe An Health Sector Trade Union, and the Nghe An Department of Health.
The Director of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, the Chairperson of the Nghe An Health Sector Trade Union, and leaders of the Nghe An Department of Health also provided answers and explanations to alleviate some of the concerns of union members and employees. Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha – Chairperson of the Nghe An Health Sector Trade Union – stated: Sharing the difficulties faced by the unit, its officials, and employees, the leaders of the Department of Health and the Health Sector Trade Union hope that union members and employees of the hospital will strive to overcome difficulties, unite, and work together to fulfill their duties, maintain the hospital's reputation, and develop the hospital in the future. The Department of Health and the trade union also provided gifts to encourage and share some of the difficulties so that officials and employees can celebrate the Lunar New Year 2024 (Year of the Dragon) joyfully with their families.
Accordingly, in the spirit of "Tet Reunion - Spring Sharing," the Nghe An Department of Health and the Health Sector Trade Union provided 33 gift packages to 33 union members and employees of the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. Each gift package was worth 1 million VND. In addition, at the request of the Nghe An Health Sector Trade Union, VietinBank also donated 10 million VND to the hospital's staff and employees. With a total support amount of 43 million VND, each staff member and employee received 1.3 million VND. Furthermore, Dr. Nguyen Huu Le personally donated 4 medical devices – 4 endoscopes – to the Nghe An Dermatology Hospital for use in the examination rooms.
Although the gift is small, it is filled with the affection and sharing of the leaders of the Department of Health and the Health Sector Trade Union, helping officials and employees of Nghe An Dermatology Hospital to have more motivation to overcome difficulties and successfully complete their tasks in the coming time.
