According to the Ministry of Health, up to 35.4% of patients who come to central hospitals for examinations could be served at provincial facilities, with 20% that could resolve issues at a district-level.
Patients at Bach Mai Hospital
Dr. Duong Duc Hung from Bach Mai Hospital said that up to 70% of hospitals going to the hospital could come to hospitals of lower levels instead.
Prof. Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh, director of E Hospital in Hanoi, said that his hospital is in the same situation with Bach Mai. He added that doctors at central hospitals should explain to patients who suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes about the treatment regime of the Ministry of Health and after that they can receive periodic checks-up at grassroots-level medical facilities.
Every day, an average 7,000 outpatients visit the HCM City University Medical Centre for health check-ups and treatment, resulting in long waiting lines of patients at most departments.
In reality, many people still want to central hospitals for examinations and treatment so that they can feel more assured.
Meanwhile, most of medical centres at communes nationwide have failed to meet people’s demand due to limited medical equipment. The number of medicines listed in the health insurance remains modest. Some centres even lack doctors.
A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Health at medical centres at 26 communes and wards in eight different cities and provinces showed that all of them need to be upgraded.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said that in the coming time, doctors will be rotated to medical stations at communes and wards which do not have any doctors.
The ministry has also asked the Vietnam Social Insurance to ensure enough medicines as regulated for medical stations at communes.
Major city-level hospitals should transfer patients with non-serious ailments to district- and provincial-level hospitals, the minister instructed.