Hanoi's Department of Health has urged its hospitals to keep improving service quality and reducing administrative procedures to better serve patients at a time when healthcare fees are set to rise by 100 per cent.
 |
| Service fees will range from VND15,000 (US$0.70) to VND6.6 million (USD300) for neuro-imaging services. |
Late last week, the municipal People's Council approved a rise of service fees at public hospitals in the city. Accordingly, as of next month, examinations and healthcare fees at public hospitals would double.
Service fees will range from VND15,000 (US$0.70) to VND6.6 million ($300) for neuro-imaging services.
Mid last week, the city's Health Department representatives worked with local hospitals to inspect their performance and preparation for the surge in fees, emphasising the need to improve service quality delivery in line with the fee hikes.
Most of the 40 hospitals in Hanoi have invested to upgrade their examination facilities to help improve their service quality, said deputy director of the municipal Department of Health Luu Thi Lien.
The Van Dinh General Hospital in Ung Hoa District invested VND200 billion (US$9.5 million) in the past four years to upgrade infrastructure and buy modern machines.
Stricter punishment will also be handed out to staff at hospitals for unprofessional behaviour.
"If any medical workers are found to be unprofessional in their handling of patients during the examination, he or she will face stiffer fines," said director of the hospital Nguyen Van Dong.
Every day about 700-800 patients go to the hospital for health checks, and 70 per cent of them use health insurance. The hospital assigned a team of medical workers to receive the patients and give them guidance on the examination process.
The Hanoi Tumour Hospital also built a six-storey building to house its examination ward.
In addition to good infrastructure, medical workers at the hospital were asked to improve their attitude when dealing with patients to ensure friendlier service.
"The success of tumour treatment depends not only on medicine but also on the patient's good spirits," said Vu Van Thach, head of the hospital's Examination Ward.
Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health Luu Thi Lien said the fee hikes were necessary and urgent. At present many hospitals did not have enough funds to buy medicine, materials and equipment.
