Increased hospital fees, increased pressure on some hospitals.

(Baonghean) - Implemented for over a week now, the new hospital fee rates have received support from medical facilities and patients.

For patients with health insurance (the group affected by this price increase), the price increase, combined with the extension of health insurance coverage to district-level facilities, gives them more options for choosing medical facilities for examination and treatment, as well as access to high-quality care services.

Mr. Le Cao Quy (60 years old), from Hong Son ward (Vinh city), said: "If the service is not thorough, I will switch to another hospital. Now patients have the right to do so... We support the increase in hospital fees to cover all medical expenses, but the important thing is that the quality of examination and treatment must improve accordingly."

Patients register for medical examination and treatment at Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital.

For hospitals, the new hospital fee rates help increase revenue, thereby enabling them to reinvest in improving the quality of medical examination and treatment by developing high-tech medical services. Following the direction of the Department of Health, hospitals in the province have now publicly posted the new fee rates so that patients are aware of them.

Along with the implementation of health insurance coverage, the pressure on reputable district-level hospitals stems from the influx of patients while existing human resources and equipment cannot adequately and promptly meet the demand; hospitals in mountainous and rural areas, on the other hand, are facing a lack of patients…

At Vinh City General Hospital, the number of patients these days is 2.3 times higher than before; the number of patients at Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital has also increased dramatically. Dr. Dau Minh Quang - Director of Nghe An Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital said: These days the hospital is overloaded (with more than 400 patients/245 beds). Upon investigation, many patients from Ha Tinh also come here for examination and treatment…

Many district-level hospitals are innovating towards "Quality, safety, and patient satisfaction," such as implementing strict disciplinary measures for staff who violate codes of conduct or exhibit inappropriate behavior; deploying automated queuing systems and electronic number boards when patients arrive; implementing electronic prescriptions, and connecting examination rooms to pharmacies via network to avoid risks and errors in dispensing medication.

Kidney transplant at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital.

At the provincial level, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital is also actively investing in human resources, equipment, and infrastructure to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, meeting the needs of patients. Currently, the hospital has organized a spacious patient reception area with clear signage; arranged departments and wards for patient reception in a scientific and reasonable manner; and provided seating, drinking water, and televisions for patients while waiting for examinations.

At the same time, the hospital has opened many training courses on communication skills and appropriate behavior in various situations involving interaction with patients and their families for all staff, doctors, nurses, and employees in the hospital.

Medical staff at the Regional General Hospital provide guidance to patients.

Dr. Bui Dinh Long - Director of the Department of Health, affirmed: Along with increasing hospital fees, the health sector is continuing to focus on directing the reform of service style and attitude, improving the skills of medical staff, carrying out extensive administrative reforms, and strongly applying information technology in the sector... Moving towards a comprehensive reform of the mindset in healthcare work and delivering high-quality technical services to the people.

Thanh Chung