Overcrowding, bed-sharing and overworked staff continue to raise concerns about the quality of care at major hospitals in Vietnam.
Overcrowded room at HCM City Oncological Hospital
National Pediatric Hospital said it had managed to find individual beds for each patient for the past four months by changing administrative procedures and limiting the number of in-patients to 1,500. Patients with minor health problems are not being hospitalised, though some are being held for up to five hours for observation in case their health requires hospitalisation.
But on January 28, patients reported there was still bed-sharing going on, with nine patients sharing five beds. One parent said her child's room has two beds shared between three patients, because they all have serious illnesses and require close monitoring.
Nguyen Mien Thuy, another parent, said, "I'm worried for my child's health if the hospital discharges him too soon. I'd rather let him share beds and stay at hospital."
Hanoi National Cancer Hospital plans to increase the number of outpatients to limit bed-sharing, causing concern among patients about quality of care.
Two patients share a bed at National Pediatric Hospital
Overcrowding has been a serious problem in big cities. Sometimes, patients in HCM City Oncology Hospital, where patient numbers are at 247 percent capacity, some patients are sleeping under beds. HCM City Hospital of Traumatic and Orthopaedics is also overcrowded, at 140 percent of bed capacity, and Pediatric Hospital No.1 is at 127 percent capacity.
In 2012, the Ministry of Health announced plans to build more satellite hospitals and improve the capacity of local hospitals to reduce the number of transfers to major central hospitals. On January 20 this year, 13 major hospitals committed to end bed-sharing by February 27.
Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital, one of the most overcrowded hospital in Vietnam, did not make any commitment, blaming lack of infrastructure and equipment for chronic overcrowding.
Among 13 committed hospitals, only Viet-Duc Hospital is likely meet its goal.
Nguyen Tien Quyet, director of the hospital, said, "The total number of our beds and stretchers is 1,100, but the number of patient hasn't gone past 1,040. We'll put another 350 beds into use so we won't have to use stretchers. Patients can also stay in hospital longer instead of being transferred to satellite hospitals after primary treatment."
