"If all health centers were like this, we'd all be doomed!"

On August 7th, during a surprise inspection of the Cư ÊBur Commune Health Station in Buôn Ma Thuột City, a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam and Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến discovered that the health station was closed.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam inspected the offices of the Cu Ebur commune health station and noticed that the equipment inside was covered in dust - Photo: TIEN THANH

Cu Ebur commune was not included in the dengue fever inspection plan of the Ministry of Health's task force on the morning of August 7th.

Upon arriving at the Cu Ebur health station, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam inspected the buildings and noticed that all the doors were locked. Trying to open the windows, the Deputy Prime Minister saw that many medical devices inside were covered in dust.

A leader from the Dak Lak Department of Health repeatedly called the head of the commune's health station, but the phone was switched off. Without receiving a report from the health station head, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam inquired with local residents about the availability of healthcare services. One resident said, "The health station usually operates from Monday to Thursday, and is closed from Friday to Sunday," causing the Deputy Prime Minister to shake his head.

Looking at the scattered bricks and stones on the ground and the rusting gate of the health station, the Deputy Prime Minister remarked that the Cu Ebur commune health station "is not even using half of its capacity" and suggested that the leaders of Dak Lak province consider replanning it.

"The buildings in the health station are grand, beautiful, and large, but there are absolutely no staff on duty, no patients being examined, and yet they are still asking for more money to build more clinics. If it's like this everywhere, we're doomed," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

According to TTO